Source: Doctors rap govt over sugar tax payout delay -Newsday Zimbabwe
HUMAN rights doctors have condemned government delay in procuring cancer equipment using sugar tax proceeds, saying procrastination prolongs the suffering of cancer patients.
The rights doctors have been on government’s case since the introduction of the sugar tax last year.
Finance, Economic Development and Investments Promotion minister Mthuli Ncube introduced the special tax on sugar content effective January 1, 2024. Initially set at US$0,02 per gramme of sugar in beverages, the levy was later reduced to US$0,001 in response to concerns raised by beverage manufacturers over the tax’s effect on the prices of beverages.
The Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) yesterday expressed concern over the slow pace on the part of government in securing cancer treatment equipment.
“Two years after the introduction of the sugar tax, there has been little progress towards easing the suffering of cancer patients nationwide,” they said.
“Despite confirmation by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development that by November 2024, a total of US$30,8 million in special surtax on sugar content in beverages had been collected, no disbursement has been made to the Ministry of Health and Child Care for the procurement of cancer treatment machines.”
The rights doctors said this was despite additional funds having been collected this year.
“This delay undermines the purpose of the sugar tax, which was intended to improve public health outcomes through targeted investment in non-communicable disease management, including cancer prevention and treatment.”
ZADHR said Zimbabwe bore one of the highest cancer burdens in southern Africa, with an age-standardised incidence of 208 per 100 000 and mortality of 144 per 100 000 (Globocan 2022).
“This exceeds neighbouring countries such as South Africa (203/122), Namibia (193/113), Zambia (159/109), and Botswana (115/66), highlighting a comparatively heavier national burden.
“The country records over 17 700 new cases and nearly 12 000 deaths annually, largely due to late diagnosis and limited treatment capacity.
“This growing burden strains Zimbabwe’s already fragile health system, escalates household health expenditure and undermines productivity.”
After being cornered by the right doctors, Health and Child Care secretary Aspect Maunganidze in June this year said: “The Ministry of Health and Child Care received a budgetary allocation of US$30 million earmarked for the procurement of cancer treatment equipment.
“In accordance with the applicable public procurement laws and regulations, the equipment was grouped into Lots 1 to 7, and a competitive tendering process was undertaken.
“All requisite procurement stages, namely commercial, technical and financial evaluations, were duly conducted.”
He added: “Pursuant thereto, the following awards were made and approved by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe, (Praz): Lot 1: Supply of two multi-energy linear accelerators and Lot 5: Supply of two wide bore CT simulators to Select Healthcare (Private) Limited for a total contract sum of US$18 882 640,27, inclusive of VAT [value-added tax].
“Lot 2: Supply of two low-energy linear accelerators, was awarded to Sate Wave Technologies for a total contract value of US$8 390 400.”
The Health ministry’s chief executive officer said lots 3, 4, 6 and 7 did not meet the requisite technical specifications and, as such, the “ministry shall initiate a re-tendering process in respect thereof, in line with established procurement laws and regulations”.
However, he did not specify what lots 3, 4, 6 and 7 were meant to cover.
“The cancer treatment equipment referenced above is intended for installation at central hospitals located in Harare and Bulawayo,” Maunganidze said.
“The anticipated delivery period is 36 weeks from the date of issuance of the respective purchase orders/contract to allow for manufacturing, shipping, installation and commissioning of the equipment in question.”
Yesterday, seeing that there was little movement on the side of the government, ZADHR recommended that the Ministry of Finance urgently disburses the sugar tax funds to the Health and Child Care ministry for immediate procurement of cancer treatment equipment.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care to expedite transparent procurement and installation processes once funds are received. The Ministry of Health and Child Care is to strengthen capacity among technical staff to ensure proper utilisation and maintenance of the equipment.”
ZADHR also emphasised that equitable access should be at the centre of the rollout.
“Beyond the main central hospitals, provincial and district centres should also benefit from these investments to ensure no patient is left behind.”
ZADHR has been pressing the Health ministry demanding “an account of what cancer drugs and equipment have been procured from such surtax to date and to which hospitals these have been distributed”.
The rights doctors requested access to information in terms of section 7 of the Freedom of Information Act [Chapter 10:33].
In January, the Health ministry dismissed assertions by the rights doctors that they had received a letter when the doctors requested information on the use of sugar tax revenue.
In that January letter, Maunganidze was evasive about whether they had received the US$30,8 million, as claimed by Finance secretary George Guvamatanga and, instead, said: “The Ministry of Health and Child Care has identified the need to procure critical cancer treatment machines, which have not been available in the health sector since 2018.”
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