Govt allocates 66.7bn/- for medical equipment

DODOMA: THE government has allocated 66.7bn/- for the procurement of medical equipment in the next financial years, including x-ray machines, Deputy Minister in the President’s Office (Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities), Zainab Katimba told the House yesterday.

The deputy minister made the revelation in response to inquiries from legislators during the question-and-answer session, emphasising the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare service delivery nationwide.

She recalled that the Health Ministry’s annual budgets have been steadily increasing to support this goal, insisting the government will consider requests for medical equipment in health facilities from Members of Parliament, as most of those who had the opportunity to ask questions demonstrated a dire need for x-ray machines.

In a basic question, Nyangh’wale Member of Parliament Hussein Amar wanted to know when would the Kharumwa and Nyangh’wale Health Centres be provided with X-ray machines.

Deputy Minister Katimba, who spent a long day on the podium addressing MPs’ inquiries, stated that during the fiscal years 2021/22 to 2023/24, the government procured and installed a combined total of 280 digital x-ray machines and 322 ultrasound machines in primary healthcare facilities.

Speaking specifically about Nyangh’wale District Council, the deputy minister said it received two x-ray machines, installed at the district hospital in November 2022.

“Honorable Speaker, the government will continue to improve the infrastructure for radiology services in healthcare facilities, including the Kharumwa and Nyangh’wale Health Centres,” she said.

During a supplementary question, Sebastian Kapufi, MP for Mpanda Urban (CCM), who posed the question on behalf of the absent Amar, emphasized the urgent need for x-ray facilities in Kharumwa and Nyangh’wale.

He requested the deputy minister to instruct the District Executive Director to expedite the construction of the building and other essential infrastructure using internal funds.

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Responding, the deputy minister reminded that the decentralization by devolution (D by D) principle empowers Local government Authorities (LGAs) to raise their own sources and make allocations based on the prioritized needs of the society, to effectively implement the development plans.

“I therefore direct the (Nyangh’wale DED) to consider allocating funds for the construction of the x-ray buildings in the budget plans. The central government will provide x-ray machines through the 66.7bn/ funds allocated for medical equipment in the next financial year,” she stated.

In a related question, Mvomero Jonas Zeeland, inquired when the government would complete the construction of Boma health centre in Doma Village, Mvomero District.

The deputy minister informed the MP that the government has allocated 40m/- in the next financial year for the completion of the centre, whose construction commenced in the fiscal year 2021/22, with citizens initiating the construction of the Outpatient Department (OPD) building.

“The government continues to allocate budgets for the completion of strategically located health centers nationwide, including the Doma Health Centre,” she stressed.