ZIMBABWE’S healthcare system is at a critical crossroads, with public hospitals battling medicine shortages, ageing infrastructure, staff shortages and rising patient costs, even as the government points to increased investment and reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage.

Against this backdrop, our senior reporter Freeman Makopa (ND) spoke to Health and Child Care permanent secretary Aspect Maunganidze (AM) on the state of the public health system, the migration of healthcare workers, hospital rehabilitation, affordability and concerns over transparency in the management of public health resources.

Find below excerpts from the interview:

ND: Public hospitals continue to face shortages of medicines, equipment and other essentials. Has the State abandoned universal healthcare?

AM: No. The government of Zimbabwe remains firmly committed to the principle of universal health coverage and to ensuring that all Zimbabweans have access to essential health services regardless of their ability to pay.

We recognise that a health system as large and complex as ours cannot be entirely free of challenges, which may include intermittent shortages of medicines, consumables and some critical equipment.

Keep Reading

Where such challenges exist, it’s largely the result of growing demand for services, supply chain pressures and broader economic factors that affect health systems across many countries.

However, they should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from the State’s responsibility to provide healthcare.

In fact, government has significantly increased its commitment to the health sector.

The 2026 National Budget represents further progress towards the Abuja Declaration target of allocating 15% of national expenditure to health.

ND: What is the immediate priority?

AM: The focus now is to translate that investment to measurable improvements in service delivery.

Medicine availability at public health facilities currently averages 47% against a minimum stock level target of 50%.

To improve this position, Treasury is mobilising US$10 million to urgently support NatPharm procurement contracts, with the objective of raising medicine availability above 55% while ensuring equitable distribution across the country.

ND: What investments are being made to modernise hospitals?

AM: Through the National Development Strategy, hospitals have received digital X-ray machines, MRI and CT scanners, theatre equipment, anaesthetic machines, neonatal equipment and advanced laboratory technologies.

New cancer treatment machines are being installed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital.

These investments are improving diagnostic capacity, enhancing clinical outcomes and expanding access to specialised care.

While challenges might exist in some areas of service delivery, the trajectory is clear. Government is steadily modernising the health system, strengthening access to medicines and equipment, and improving the quality of care available to all Zimbabweans.

Universal health coverage remains a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s health sector agenda and Vision 2030.

ND: Many doctors and nurses continue leaving Zimbabwe. Is the country training health workers for export?

AM: Health worker migration is not unique to Zimbabwe. It is a global phenomenon affecting many countries, including developed nations and is driven by a variety of factors ranging from remuneration to career opportunities and global labour market demands.

The government recognises these challenges and has responded by placing health workforce strengthening at the centre of its health sector reforms.

Through the Health Workforce Investment Compact, Zimbabwe has adopted an ambitious strategy to build, retain and support a resilient health workforce, with the goal of doubling the number of health professionals by 2030.

This is not a strategy for export; it is a strategy for national health system strengthening.

More than 88% of the US$1,43 billion compact is directed towards health workforce investments.

Treasury has approved 5 284 posts for 2025 and 8 785 posts for 2026, with thousands already filled.

ND: Beyond recruitment and funding, what other measures are in place?

AM: Government has strengthened institutional arrangements for health workforce management through the establishment of the Health Service Commission (HSC).

The commission provides dedicated oversight of human capital management within the health sector, including recruitment, deployment, retention, performance management, career development and workforce planning.

This represents an important reform aimed at building a more responsive, professional and sustainable health workforce capable of meeting the country’s present and future health needs.

ND: Is government investing in training institutions?

AM: Government is also investing in training institutions, expanding e-learning opportunities, supporting rural retention programmes through an US$11 million incentive package and strengthening support for frontline health workers, including village health workers.

In addition, we are actively engaging the Zimbabwean health diaspora to support skills transfer, mentorship and specialist training.

Migration will continue to be a reality in an interconnected world, but our focus is on creating an environment where more health professionals choose to build their careers in Zimbabwe while ensuring the country continues to produce the skilled workforce needed to serve its people.

Through the combined efforts of the health workforce Investment Compact and the Health Service Commission, government is laying the foundation for a stronger, better supported and more resilient health workforce in line with Vision 2030.

ND: Why is there a gap between rehabilitation promises and conditions in public hospitals?

AM: It is important to acknowledge that the challenges patients experience in some of our major hospitals often reflect the pressures associated with growing demand for healthcare services, ageing infrastructure in some facilities and the need for continuous modernisation and maintenance of health systems.

However, the fact that there may be challenges does not mean that rehabilitation programmes are not taking place.

Large-scale health infrastructure transformation is a process rather than an event and many of the projects underway involve replacing ageing systems that have accumulated over many years.

Through the Presidential Hospital Renovation Programme, extensive work is underway at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital and will be rolled out to the other central and provincial hospitals.

These initiatives involve upgrading infrastructure, replacing obsolete equipment, modernising specialised services and strengthening maintenance systems.

ND: What impact has the sugar tax had?

AM: In line with government’s Vision 2030 to deliver world-class healthcare, the sugar tax initiative has enabled the procurement of state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment, with installation underway at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital.

Radiotherapy services continue to be provided, ensuring uninterrupted access to life-saving cancer treatment.

Government is also accelerating the decentralisation of specialised cancer services to Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo and Chinhoyi provincial hospitals.

This will bring care closer to communities, reduce travel costs for patients and ease pressure on central hospitals.

The reality is that transformation on this scale takes time.

While challenges may exist in some facilities, the encouraging development is that investments are now visible, implementation is underway and the health system is steadily moving from rehabilitation towards long-term modernisation and improved patient care.

ND: Corruption allegations have affected trust in public health procurement. Why should citizens believe funds are being managed transparently?

AM: Public trust is essential in the health sector and the ministry fully understands why Zimbabweans expect transparency, accountability and value for money in the management of public health resources.

The ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and is continuously strengthening systems designed to prevent, detect and address any form of abuse.

All procurement is conducted in accordance with the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act and related regulations.

Tenders are processed through the electronic Government Procurement System, publicly advertised and open to eligible bidders through competitive processes.

These mechanisms improve transparency, create audit trails and reduce opportunities for manipulation.

ND: Are these measures enough to rebuild confidence?

AM: We recognise that public confidence is not built through systems alone but also through consistent accountability and openness.

This is why the ministry continues to support oversight by relevant regulatory institutions, internal audit mechanisms and external accountability structures.

While challenges may exist in maintaining public confidence in any large public system, the ministry continues to strengthen governance, transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure public resources are used for their intended purpose.

The overwhelming majority of health resources are directed towards improving services, purchasing medicines, strengthening infrastructure and supporting healthcare workers.

Our responsibility is to ensure that every public dollar achieves maximum benefit for patients and we remain committed to continuously strengthening governance, transparency and public accountability across the health sector.

 
Previous article
Mutapa Gold secures US$75mln for Shamva project
Next article
SI operationalises river disaster declaration, creates gold recovery regime