Goodall, Kumpalume collide over x-ray machines: Malawi ministers in collision course

Finance minister Goodall Gondwe says the government has paid off SAR9 million for the repair of an x-ray machine at Kamuzu Central Hospital and it should be fixed anytime.

However, minister of health Peter Kumpalume says his ministry is yet to receive the money, putting the two senior ministers on a simple collision course for a serious issue of national importance.

“Treasury released the money, I think last week. It was nine million rand so to me that issue is over,” Gondwe said in an interview.

When told Kumpalume says his ministry is waiting for the money, the ministry has not received it, Gondwe said as far as he was concerned, treasury released the money and the ministry of Health sent the money to the suppliers in South Africa.

“If the minister of Health says he has not received the money, then go back to him, maybe he knows where the money is,” said Gondwe.

The x-ray machine has broken down for a year now and the government is failing to fix the problem, another example of fast collapsing health sector as the economy has taken a slump pushing the government into bankruptcy.

According to officials at Kamuzu Central Hospital, the machine serves 100 patients a day and about 2500 a month. Patients are now sent to private hospitals for x ray services or cram at Bwaila Hospital for the service.