Gweru Provincial Hospital operating with just two orthopaedic surgeons amid staffing crisis

GWERU Provincial Hospital is operating with two orthopaedic surgeons, laying bare the shortage of specialist health personnel at the biggest referral hospital in the Midlands Province.

Orthopaedic surgeons specialise in the treatment and rehabilitation of bones and joints.

The shortage of these specialists was disclosed in the National Assembly recently when Minister of Health and Childcare Douglas Mombeshora was quizzed on the personnel at the Midlands referral centre.

“The hospital currently has two (2) orthopaedic specialists, and a third one will be completing attachment in December 2026,” said Mombeshora.

The minister also said the low staffing of orthopaedic specialists is a result of the restricted theatre space, with plans to construct an expanded one being mulled.

“A theatre block is on the cards to expand theatre space. This will increase the operating space and in turn trigger the recruitment of more orthopaedic specialists, thus it will significantly reduce the waiting period before surgery,” said Mombeshora.

The shortage of orthopaedic surgeons in Gweru has led to a prolonged waiting period for patients to be attended to.

This has left some at the mercy of private practitioners who charge exorbitant prices for treatment.

Gweru Provincial Hospital caters for trauma patients from highway accidents and artisanal mining injuries.

Mombeshora also added that the government is working on a centralised system for the procurement of medical laboratory sundries, which some hospitals are failing to replenish due to a shortage of foreign currency.

“The ministry recognises that a fully functional laboratory is central to timely diagnosis and quality patient care at Gweru Provincial Hospital and at all our referral facilities.

“Interruptions in reagent supply and equipment downtime cause delays in results and force patients to seek tests elsewhere at their own cost.

“To address this, the ministry has completed a national quantification of all laboratory commodities, including reagents, consumables and equipment requirements for all levels of care. Gweru Provincial Hospital’s needs are included in this exercise.

“Most laboratory reagents and equipment are imported and must be paid for in foreign currency, which individual hospitals often cannot access.

“In addition, each hospital orders in small quantities, which attracts high prices and makes the hospital less attractive to suppliers.

“Centralised procurement will therefore give Gweru Provincial Hospital and other institutions a more reliable and affordable supply of reagents and equipment, enabling the laboratory to operate at full capacity and conduct all required tests locally and on time,” he said.

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