NINETY-nine percent of cancer patients in Zimbabwe cannot afford treatment which is only accessible from private institutions as Government- run hospitals have no functional radiotherapy machines.

Briefing members of the Senate Thematic Committee on Gender during a tour in Bulawayo recently, Mpilo Central Hospital head of radiotherapy department Dr Tatenda Chingonzoh said the situation was dire.

She added that the most affected patients were the ones who were already on treatment as interrupted treatment was more detrimental than not starting at all.

Mpilo last offered radiotherapy in November last year which forced patients to travel to Harare.

However, one of the three working machines in Harare has since broken down leaving patients stranded.

“We have managed to see 769 patients for the first quarter in 2019 but the sad thing is that we can only offer diagnostic services as our machines are always down.

The situation is very sad because for some time we used to refer patients to Harare but now that all machines are down, 99 percent of cancer patients will suffer as they cannot afford private health care,” said Dr Chingonzoh.State media