Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre at Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru has become a centre of hope with the citizenry accessing specialised services at affordable prices.
The centre is rewriting the script of medical tourism in the country ever since it opened its doors to the public back in 2022.
Where patients would travel to Bulawayo or Harare for specialised medical services, the opposite is now true.
“I am here with my father. We came from Bulawayo, we were looking for a radiologist who is cheaper, then we got reference to come this side. Their rates are fair. We got charged USD$200 for the same services we were charged USD$350 in Bulawayo. I came in the morning and now everything is done with no waiting period,” a patient from Bulawayo told the ZBC News.
Another said, “I came here with my father Nyasha Teererai from Masvingo. He is no longer able to talk. The tragedy happened on Saturday. It happened unexpectedly so he got admitted at Ndanga Hospital and it didn’t get any better. Then someone from Ndanga referred me here, where he got his scan tests done. From the gate, the reception was good, I have never seen such a service in my life.”
“I was referred here from St Paul Mission in Zhombe. I came here to Gweru to seek medication for a troublesome headache. I was successfully examined today. I thank our Government led by President Mnangagwa for making us such facilities. Some of us don’t have money, we are now getting services nearer. We are now getting medical help locally. Even if you don’t have money to go outside the country, it is now easier, here in Gweru. I got scanned and the personnel here helped me without much problems,” said another patient.
With two divisions out of three now fully operational and equipped with modern equipment, the health institution is on a massive expansion drive.
“The term national means we are covering across the region, which means also providing services other regional countries. However, currently what we have done as a pathological centre is we have set up state of the art laboratories at the centre here in Gweru.
“We have also some labs dotted in the Midlands province which includes an office in Gweru CBD. We collect samples there and get them tested here. We are also setting up in some satellite lab centers in Zvishavane and Kwekwe. In the long run, we will also do research that is aimed at developing vaccines. We have started equipping our laboratory and the idea is to do research and possibly develop vaccines based on that research,” the senior laboratory technologist at the centre, Mr Elliot Nyagumbo explained.
The medical facility, which is a product of education 5.0, is a clear testimony that the heritage-based model is not just rhetoric but a lived reality.
It also feeds into the National Development Strategy one (NDS1), which seeks to position Zimbabwe as the region’s health hub.
