By Lorraine Mashandure
Harare Wednesday 20 November 2013(News of the South) – Government has only managed to release 46 per cent of the $294 000 allocated this year for Masvingo Provincial Hospital (MPH) located in the south eastern section of Zimbabwe an official has said.
At a media tour at the hospital MPH accountant Helga Mano told journalists that less than half of the money allocated to the hospital by the ministry of finance has so far been released this year thereby hampering health systems at the institution.
Mano said the lack of reserves was however overstraining the Health Services Funds (HSF) which includes of funds collected from patients that are supposed to pay supplier debts.
“A total of $294 000 was allocated for the hospital this year after we had requested for $1,6 million last year, but only 46 per cent of the Government of Zimbabwe (GOZ) funds has been released.
“We are however making follow ups with our head office and the ministry of finance has since said will release the outstanding funds.
“The challenge is however that we have outstanding invoices amounting to $220 000 that need to be cleared using GOZ and HSF funds,” she said.
Mano however said the institution has also received $12 000 under the Health Transition Fund (HTF) which is supposed to cover for the first two quarters of the year.
The Zimbabwe’s HTF is a multi-donor pooled fund managed by UNICEF to support the ministry of health and child care to achieve planned progress towards achieving the highest possible level of health and life to all citizens.
“The hospital only received $12 000 under the HTF which we have prioritised to use for the maternity department. However according to the plan we are supposed to receive $6 000 after every three months.
“The money was however not enough and we would appreciate if it is increased,” she said
Meanwhile, the hospital administrators David Sithole applauded the HTF for impacting positively on drug availability but however said the flow of funds were not predictable.
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