Govt to purchase 350 digital X-ray machines

DODOMA: THE government plans to purchase 350 digital X-ray machines for health centres across the country in the 2025/26 financial year, aiming to improve access to essential diagnostic services.

Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government, Dr Festo Dugange, informed the National Assembly yesterday while responding to a supplementary question from Vunjo MP, Dr Charles Kimei (CCM), who sought clarification on when Ntahi-West Health Centre which serves over 60,000 residents will receive an X-ray machine.

The Deputy Minister said that Ntahi-West is among the health centres earmarked to benefit in the upcoming distribution phase.

He said the purchase marks the second phase of the government’s strategic initiative to equip health centres with critical medical equipment.

“The government has already outlined its plan for acquiring X-ray machines in the coming financial year to ensure these services are readily available in health centres,” Dr Dugange said.

In further efforts to bring health services closer to the people, the government has disbursed 30bn/- to 120 constituencies identified by Members of Parliament for the construction of new health centres.

Dr Dugange was responding to another question from Temeke MP, Dorothy Kilave (CCM), regarding the construction of a health facility in Sangale Ward.

He explained that while several health centres have already been built in Temeke Constituency, there are still key areas in need.

The government, he added, remains committed to funding health infrastructure, including the construction of a health centre. In her basic question, Special Seats MP, Zuena Bushiri (CCM), inquired about the construction of male and female wards at Same District Hospital.

ALSO READ: Relief for patients as Amana Hospital launches new CT-Scan, X-Ray machines

Responding, Dr Dugange said the government began construction of the hospital in November 2022.

By April 2025, a total of 3.4bn/- had been disbursed of which 2.6bn/- for construction and 800m/- for the procurement of medical equipment.

He said out of the eight planned buildings, five have already been completed and are operational.

In the 2025/26 budget, the government has set aside 800m/- to build male, female, and children’s wards, as well as patient walkways, at Same District Hospital.

Recently, Chief Government Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports, Gerson Msigwa said that in four years of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership, the government has constructed 129 new hospitals in every district council nationwide.

He said, about 677 dispensaries, 425 health centres and 100 hospitals have been supplied with medical supplies including medical oxygen gas equipment and ambulances.

“During this four-year period, the government has built 129 new district hospitals in various councils and now every council has a hospital.

He said the government has renovated about 367 health centres and finalised the construction of 980 dispensaries that had stalled, including attending to citizens’ concerns.

Mr Msigwa said that during the four years of the sixth-phase government, a significant investment of about 1.298tri/- in medicine and modern medical equipment has been recorded (including purchase of x-rays, Ultrasound Machines and CT scans).

“The budget for medicines has increased to 239bn/-. This is specifically for medicines. Previously, the budget for medicines and other medi- cal supplies was combined. Now this amount is solely for medicines. When you include the budget for medical supplies, which has now reached 181bn/-, you can see how much our budget has in- creased,” he said.