Staff Reporter
The National Pathology Research and Diagnostic Centre at Midlands State University (MSU) in Gweru has transformed Zimbabwe’s healthcare landscape, offering affordable and specialized services that are reshaping medical tourism in the country.
Since its opening in 2022, the centre has attracted patients from across the nation, reducing the need for long trips to Bulawayo or Harare for medical treatment.
In an interview with this publication, MSU Pathology Centre senior laboratory technologist, Mr Elliot Nyagumbo highlighted the institution’s expansion and modernization efforts.
“We now have two out of three divisions fully operational with state-of-the-art equipment. We have set up labs in Gweru CBD and are establishing satellite centres in Zvishavane and Kwekwe. Our goal is to conduct research and eventually develop vaccines, expanding our reach beyond Zimbabwe into the region,” he said.
Patients from various regions have shared their positive experiences.
"I brought my father from Bulawayo after hearing that the services here are more affordable. We were charged USD$200 for radiology services, compared to USD$350 in Bulawayo. The process was swift, with no waiting period," said one patient.
Another patient from Masvingo, whose father was referred to the center after receiving inadequate care at Ndanga Hospital, echoed similar sentiments.
"The service was exceptional from the moment we arrived. I have never seen anything like it," he said.
For patients like those referred from St Paul Mission in Zhombe, the center has been a game-changer.
"I came here for a persistent headache, and the care I received was top-notch. Thanks to President Mnangagwa’s leadership, people like me who cannot afford international care are receiving services locally. Gweru now offers us the medical help we need without the burden of travel costs,” patients explained.
The center’s success is a testament to Zimbabwe’s Education 5.0 initiative, which emphasizes heritage-based solutions to national challenges. It also aligns with the country’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), positioning Zimbabwe as a regional hub for health services.
The MSU Pathology Centre stands as a beacon of hope for affordable and accessible healthcare, driving both medical innovation and community welfare.
