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Nesia Mhaka Herald Correspondent

Government has called for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in the health sector to drive the rehabilitation and re-equipment of State-owned hospitals whose facilities are fast deteriorating owing to years of underfunding.

Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo made the call during the handover of goods worth over $60 000 which were donated by Johanne Masowe WeChishanu apostolic sect to Chitungwiza Central Hospital last week.

The donated goods included groceries, toiletries, a cow, a goat and some blankets.

Dr Moyo said Government was concerned about the state of most of its hospitals which were in urgent need of rehabilitation.

He said Government did not have the capacity to adequately fund the rehabilitation of public hospitals, adding that the introduction of PPPs was being considered to attract funding to the health sector.

“The private sector has served as a catalyst to deliver services to people by ways of greater efficiency, better management skills and focused strategies and stronger resource base whether in terms of monetary resources or human resources,” he said.

“Government is concerned with the state of its hospitals throughout the country which have been affected by inadequate funding over the past decade owing to illegal sanctions.

“We have been relying on Treasury for funding the health sector but the money is inadequate so we are considering strategies like introducing private-public partnerships to attract funding into the health sector.”

Dr Moyo said access to essential health services was an important aspect of national development.

“We could invite a private player to rehabilitate a hospital and then allow the investor to operate one of the wings at the hospital for a certain period of time to enable the investor to recoup their investment. We need funding in the health sector,” said Dr Moyo.

Speaking at the same event, Johanne Masowe yeChishanu leader Madzibaba Simbarashe Nengomasha said donating to hospitals and clinics was part of the church’s responsibility.