I got a call from a family friend on Tuesday 1st September 2020 around 2.30pm. The message was of a grave matter, his younger brother had been diagnosed with intestinal obstruction, a fatal condition which kills within hours. The family friend needed my help in transporting the sick fellow to Karanda Mission Hospital, in Mt Darwin about 200 kilometers from the capital of Zimbabwe Harare.
They had been advised to look for an Off-roader vehicle. The Dr who had attended to the young man described it as an “emergency ” and an operation had to be done by Wednesday latest 2 September. West End Hospital, one of the few private hospital in Zimbabwe’s Capital City Harare wanted USD5,000 for bed and a further USD3,000 for surgeons. This was cash and in advance of USD7,000 upfront.
Parirenyatwa hospital, the biggest hospital in Zimbabwe was not admitting any patients, emergency or not in their public section. Only the private wards @ USD100 a day. Furthermore, Parirenyatwa hospital demanded a Covid-19 PCR test. It was mandatory. Not the USD20 one, but the $60 to 75 USD tests.
Private surgeons were demanding USD5000 for the operation. In addition, an Anesthetist was required, with the cheapest billing USD700 for the operation. Karanda Hospital which was recommended as the best place for the surgery required “only ” USD500 would do for the operation and was approximately 200 km away from Harare.
We left Harare approximately 3pm for Karanda, about 200km from Harare. There was massive traffic jam by the toll gate. We arrived at Karanda just before 6pm after crossing a bridge less river were we had to check which way other cars used to cross. It’s clear during the rainy season, this bridge is impassable.
There were hundreds of cars parked outside the hospital. Cars were full of people, with blankets, water containers and the like. Clothes just laundered were scattered all over the Bush trees surrounding the hospital.
We were not allowed inside the hospital yard. We dropped off our sick patient by the gate. A Doctor was called, who indicated that he would be by the wards as they had left.
We were hit with bad news after the Dr assessed the patient and said take him to Parirenyatwa. We explained that Pari was not admitting any patients. Dr explained that intestinal obstruction is a complicated operation which required surgeons. Karanda had no surgeons.
Karanda charges “only” USD8 per day. Our patient was detained overnight as he needed 4 pints of Drip. He was severely dehydrated.
The following morning, we started hunting for surgeons back in Harare. I remember vividly one surgeon asking how much we have in USD. We said we had only 600. He said it’s a nonstarter, at least if we had USD2500 upfront he could operate on a payment plan.
We called at least 6 surgeons who all were hoovering between 4000 and 5000 USD.
We hit luck when we were referred to a surgeon who said come pay $50 USD consultation fee so as to determine the exact problem. He was also willing to work with payment plans.
We checked with Bindura Provincial Hospital, were we established there was a general surgeon according to the Provincial Medical Director. Bindura is about 90km from Harare, the capital.
We left Karanda at 2pm on our way back to Harare with our sick patient who was in terrible pain. We passed through Bindura hospital and met the surgeon who broke bad news that the theatre was not operating. We proceeded to Harare and got to the surgeon at around 5.30.
He diagnosed it as obstruction of the big intestines and said an operation was urgent. He billed USD1400 for his services. Anaesthetic was $700 cash. A Gel was required for the operation, and quotations were got. West End billed $900 USD, until we got one for $300 USD. Pari billed $100 per day. We rushed for a Covid test with one of the Labs which do not close. It was $75 and results would be ready after 5 hours. We picked up the results around midnight and went straight to Parirenyatwa hospital. Patient was admitted.
Parirenyatwa demanded $80 000 RTGS for bed (Zimbabwe local currency). And $600 USD for theater. Operation was successful done on the 3rd of September.
My question to you all is:
So if you don’t have USD $ you are clearly headed one way…death. Is this the health care we want? Do you need to know someone in order to get help? Why are public hospitals closed?
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