Patients Denied Treatment as Mpilo Hospital Faces Critical Resource Shortages

BULAWAYO – Patients seeking medical care at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo are being turned away or discharged without adequate treatment due to severe shortages of essential medical supplies.

The hospital, a key facility serving thousands across Bulawayo and neighbouring regions, is struggling to cope with overwhelming demand and insufficient resources, leaving many desperate.

In one alarming case, an elderly patient with a broken arm was reportedly told to pay US$40 for a plaster cast before doctors could attend to her. Without the funds, she was sent home untreated, sparking outrage and shedding light on the dire situation at Mpilo.

This incident is not isolated but reflects a broader crisis affecting public healthcare in Zimbabwe, as reported by Zimeye.

The hospital is reportedly running out of necessities such as medication, bandages, and materials for treating fractures. “It’s heartbreaking to watch patients suffer, knowing nothing can be done unless they pay for items that should be provided,” said a relative of an affected patient.

Patients without financial means are left with no option but to endure pain or complications, while others are forced to seek help at private facilities they cannot afford.

Adding to the crisis, nurses at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in Harare recently staged a strike over deteriorating working conditions, including shortages of electricity and running water.

This protest further illustrates the systemic challenges crippling the country’s healthcare system and the frustration among healthcare workers tasked with providing care under these dire circumstances.