State disburses 63.7bn/- for medical equipment
DODOMA: A TOTAL of 63.7bn/- has been released in the current financial year for the procurement of medical equipment for all 184 councils across the country, the government has announced.
Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government), Dr Festo Dugange, made the statement in Parliament while responding to a supplementary question from Lupa MP, Masache Njelu Kasaka (CCM).
Dr Dugange said the government’s current priority is to ensure that all newly constructed health facilities are adequately equipped with essential medical tools to facilitate the delivery of quality healthcare services.
“The government will continue to allocate funds to these health centres to ensure they are able to provide quality services to the people,” he emphasised.
In his supplementary question, MP Kasaka sought clarification on the government’s plans to supply medical equipment to completed but unequipped health centres in Chunya District, and measures to address the shortage of 719 medical personnel in the area.
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In response, Dr Dugange said that over 100bn/- had been allocated in the past two financial years for medical equipment procurement in various councils.
He noted that the current 63.7bn/- allocation includes funding for Chunya District Council.
He further revealed that in the 2024/25 financial year, the government allocated 400m/- to Chunya District Council specifically for the purchase of medical equipment, with 100m/- earmarked for dispensaries.
In the 2025/26 financial year, an additional 200m/- has been budgeted, of which 50m/- will be directed to dispensaries.
Regarding the staffing shortage, Dr Dugange noted that the government has continued to address the issue through strategic recruitment and staff housing programmes.
Between 2020/21 and 2024/25, a total of 34,720 health workers have been employed and deployed to health facilities nationwide.
Specifically, for Chunya District, he said 151 health workers had been assigned over the same period 46 to the district hospital, 44 to health centres, and 61 to dispensaries.
In a related development, Dr Dugange said the government had also disbursed funds to Tabora Municipal Council for the procurement of equipment for newly completed dispensaries, including Misha Dispensary.
He directed the council to ensure that all delivered medical equipment is fairly distributed, including to Misha Dispensary, so it can begin offering much-needed healthcare services to residents.
