Premier Service Medical Investments (PSMI) owned hospital Westend has suspended Theatre Procedures due to lack of stocks and sundries they have announced in a notice. The upmarket hospital is owned by the government through the integrated health services provider PSMI.
The information was communicated through a notice
SUSPENSION OF ELECTIVE THEATRE PROCEDURES
Due to the unavailability of adequate stocks and sundries in our theatre and hospital. all elective bookings have been suspended immediately. Once the stocking levels have improved you will be advised.
The hospital hopes to resume theatre procedures once they restock.
Tip of an iceberg
The halting of elective theatre procedures by Westend Hospital is not an isolated case off the health service deliver in Zimbabwe. Westend hospital is one of the few hospitals that were still performing theatre procedures in Zimbabwe. Government hospitals have long stopped such services not only due to lack of stocks and sundries but health professionals. The government has been engaged in a prolonged fight with doctors of over their salaries and working conditions.
Private hospitals are giving in
The main worrying issue now is hospitals owned by private companies are also finding it difficult to operate in the harsh economic conditions. St Annes hospital closed in May 2016 dues to viability issues.
The owners of the premises Little Company of Mary gave CAPS Holdings a notice to vacate as CAPS was struggling to pay rentals. CAPS Holdings is the company that was operating the elite hospital. The situation left Zimbabwe without one of its major hospitals. Other hospitals owned by private companies are facing viability challenges emanating from low effective demand as their customers are facing challenges in paying medical costs. The situation has been made worse by the problems being faced by medical insurance companies that are also facing viability challenges.