By Flata Kavinga
Kwekwe General Hospital is failing to attract specialist doctors despite the availability of government-approved posts due to acute accommodation shortages, the institution’s newly appointed Medical Superintendent, Dr Tinashe Gunda, has said.
In an interview, Dr Gunda said while government had made efforts to strengthen health service delivery by availing additional posts for doctors, including specialists, the hospital was struggling to fill the positions because it lacked adequate staff housing.
“As an institution we have challenges in accommodation,” said Dr Gunda. “Government has helped us a lot and availed some additional posts for doctors, including for specialists, which may make this hospital function very efficiently but currently our challenge is accommodation.”
He said the hospital was currently renting accommodation for some medical staff at a high cost, a situation he described as unsustainable and a major deterrent to attracting specialist doctors to the Midlands-based referral institution.
Dr Gunda said there were ongoing staff housing construction projects at the hospital, but progress had been slow. He added that upon assuming office, he was briefed on the status of the projects and was now engaging relevant authorities to expedite their completion.
“We are engaging relevant authorities so that they can assist us to make sure that the accommodation is completed as soon as possible,” he said. “Once that is done, we will be able to accommodate the doctors who are coming.”
The hospital’s accommodation challenges date back to 21 June 2021, when doctors’ and staff residences at the institution were destroyed by fire, leaving many health workers without on-site housing. Since then, efforts to construct new doctors’ flats at the hospital have progressed slowly due to inadequate financial and material resources.
Kwekwe General Hospital serves as a key referral centre for the city and surrounding districts, but like many public health institutions in the country, it continues to face staffing and infrastructure challenges that affect service delivery.
