Shortage of specialists hits hard

Patients seeking the services of a gynaecologist now are being given bookings for appointments on December 30. Those booked to see the gynaecologist last week spent the whole day waiting for the specialist who never arrived.

“He only comes every Tuesday and last week we spend the whole day waiting, only to be told at 3pm that he was not coming,” said Tarisai Chaputika, 45.

A nurse who addressed the patients said the specialist was “too overwhelmed with the huge number of patients” so only those patients who had booked would be attended to.

“I am not sure whether the gynaecologist will be coming, but let us just keep our fingers crossed that he comes,” said the unidentified nurse.

“However, he will only attend to those who are booked. If there is anyone wishing to be assisted by him, the next available date is December 30. If you are not booked, you will not be attended to.”

Obediah Moyo, the hospital’s chief executive officer, did not answer his phone since last week.

David Parirenyatwa, the health minister, said shortage of staff was the reason his ministry had always been calling for the unfreezing of all medical posts. He praised President Robert Mugabe for last week emphasising the importance of unfreezing posts within the sector.

Mugabe said it was embarrassing that government failed to properly remunerate and employ health professionals after training them. “Our budget must take that into account. Our budget was too low, leading to freezing of many nursing posts. There is need for improvement in that regard,” he said.

Dairai Mushonganyika, 46, from Marondera said failure by the specialist to turn up was costly for the patients as they were required to pay the admission charge of $10 every week.

“Sometimes I think that it was a wrong move to come here because the appointments are postponed every Tuesday. If one has a serious medical condition that needs urgent attention, using the facilities of public health institutions such as these is not advisable. If you have cancer, it will eat you up before the specialist can attend to you,” said a bitter Mushonganyika.