Tanyaradzwa Rusike
TWO new cancer treatment centres are set to be established at the Gweru Provincial Hospital and the Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare under a Government programme to decentralise and improve access to treatment for a disease that has become the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe, it has been learnt.
The new centres will bring the number of public hospitals offering radiotherapy services to four, alongside Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Zimbabwe’s capacity to manage cancer, which continues to claim thousands of lives annually partly due to limited treatment options.
In addition to the decentralisation efforts, the Government has initiated the procurement of advanced cancer treatment machines for Parirenyatwa and Mpilo.
The process is being funded through the US$30,8 million collected from the sugar tax in 2024.
The tax, introduced last year, is a levy imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages to discourage excessive consumption of the drinks and reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
In Zimbabwe, revenues from the tax are earmarked for healthcare initiatives, including the acquisition of critical medical equipment and medicines.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Aspect Maunganidze told The Sunday Mail that Treasury had provided sugar tax funds to acquire essential cancer treatment machines and medicines.
“Indeed, Treasury has communicated that the sugar tax funds that were collected in 2024 are available for use to acquire cancer treatment machines and medicines for the country,” he said.
“Cancer management in the country has been largely hampered by the lack of hi-tech diagnostic and treatment equipment, medicines and other commodities.
“The last five to seven years have seen the country struggle with frequent breakdowns of the ageing radiotherapy machines at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo.
“These are the two public sector cancer treatment centres that offer radiotherapy in Zimbabwe.
“Apart from the two, there is only one other private radiotherapy centre that offers services to those who can afford.”
The Government, he said, is prioritising the acquisition of radiotherapy machines, including linear accelerators, brachytherapy machines and stereotactic radiosurgery units, commonly referred to as gamma knives.
Radiotherapy machines are medical devices used to treat cancer by delivering controlled doses of radiation to destroy cancerous cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
Linear accelerators are the most commonly used radiotherapy machines; they generate high-energy X-rays or electrons to target tumours with precision.
Brachytherapy machines, on the other hand, are used for treating cervical, prostate, breast and skin cancers, among others.
They deliver internal radiation therapy. This means a radiation source is placed directly inside or near the tumour.
Stereotactic radiosurgery units deliver highly focused radiation to small tumours, often in the brain or spine, in a single or few sessions.
The gamma knife is used for brain tumours and neurological disorders, using multiple beams of gamma radiation that converge precisely on the tumour site.
Dr Maunganidze said additional diagnostic equipment such as CT scans and simulators will also be procured to enhance the efficiency of treatment centres.
“After the announcement of the availability of US$30,8 million of sugar tax funds for cancer treatment machines and drugs, the ministry started the procurement process,” he added.
“The purchase of the advanced treatment machines is, however, a complex process, especially considering that there are no local manufacturers.
“The Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, acknowledging the urgency of this procurement, has given the necessary approvals and now the tender is out and various bids are being submitted.”
The procurement process, which includes installation and commissioning of the machines, is expected to take between three and nine months, depending on the complexity of the equipment and construction of the necessary infrastructure such as radiation bunkers.
Dr Maunganidze said each of the two main treatment centres — Parirenyatwa and Mpilo — will receive at least two of each type of machine, with a total of over 10 advanced cancer treatment machines expected to be installed.
Functional older machines will then be relocated to Gweru and Mutare to establish new radiotherapy units.
“For the majority of the machines, we expect to acquire two of each type to equip both Parirenyatwa and Mpilo.
“More than 10 various machines are expected to be installed.
“For now, we intend to make the two radiotherapy centres fully functional and centres of excellence.
“Some of the old machines that are still functional are likely to be installed in the other cities, especially Gweru Provincial and Victoria Chitepo Provincial hospitals.
“These institutions are already earmarked to have radiotherapy centres in our expansion drive meant to bring this service to the people.
“The expansion drive, however, is done in a coordinated manner as this is a highly specialised field where the experts and supportive services need to be in place.”
Relief
The provision of cancer treatment in public hospitals will come as a huge relief to thousands of Zimbabweans living with various cancers who depend on costly services from private hospitals.
The cost of a round of cancer treatment in Zimbabwe varies. It depends on the type of treatment, the stage of the cancer and the patient’s circumstances.
Chemotherapy drugs can cost anywhere from US$100 to US$1 000 per dose, while radiotherapy can cost between US$5 000 and US$10 000 per course of treatment.
A patient may need multiple courses of radiotherapy, depending on the type of cancer and the stage of the disease.
Surgery can cost anywhere from US$1 000 to US$10 000, depending on the type of surgery and the complexity of the case.
The provision of cancer treatment in public hospitals is expected to bring the cost of the services down.
Public health expert and Harare Institute of Public Health principal Dr Amos Marume said the development was welcome.
“This is a welcome development if the Government wants to invest in cancer screening, early diagnosis, management and treatment because cancers are becoming more common.”
