Proposed changes to the country’s medical aid laws could overwhelm public hospitals and condemn patients to preventable deaths, industry players have warned.
The reforms to Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000, which seek to bar medical aid societies from owning hospitals and clinics, have sparked fierce debate, with funders cautioning that poorly calibrated amendments can destabilise decades of private healthcare investment.
Parliament is considering submissions from funders, providers and other stakeholders.
The proposed changes come at a time when government health facilities are in a dire state, facing shortages of basic drugs and medicines, while nurses are quitting in protest over poor working conditions.
A joint submission from Bonvie Medical Aid Scheme and Vivat Health Solutions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care painted a gloomy picture, warning of a potential “medical aid death spiral, followed by brain drain.”
The submission argued that vertically integrated healthcare systems help to contain costs and sustain delivery.
However, under the proposed changes, “medical aids lose negotiating power — providers set unchecked pricing,” they warned.
Subscription costs could rise sharply, the submission said, as funders lose low-cost provider alternatives, ultimately making healthcare unaffordable for many households.
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The Bonvie and Vivat submission stated that under the proposed framework, “citizens and the nation lose.”
“What happens after the changes? Members face restricted choice of where to access care, public hospitals absorb the failure as the private relief valve falls,” the petition read.
“The patient — restricted choice, higher out-of-pocket costs. Zimbabwe’s economy — health tourism derailed. Healthcare professionals — brain drain accelerates. Vision 2030 — middle-income economy goal undermined.”
First Mutual Health also warned that restricting investment into healthcare providers will lead to reduced healthcare access for ordinary citizens.
“Increased pressure on public health facilities and potentially forced disposal of healthcare assets and loss of investment value,” the service provider warned.
They said the refoiReduced healthcare access and service availability, particularly in underserved areas.”
Industry stakeholders estimate that more than 10 000 jobs across the healthcare value chain can be affected if the reforms are rushed through without adequate consultation and phased implementation.
They also warn that private healthcare infrastructure — hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and diagnostic facilities — will face uncertainty.
The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has petitioned Parliament to ensure any reforms are balanced, evidence-based and aligned with national healthcare objectives.
It recommended an independent impact assessment before implementation, wider stakeholder consultations, preservation of cost-containment mechanisms, and alignment with universal healthcare access goals.
The date for AHFoZ’s hearing before the Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care will be announced soon.
Other critics say if the proposed changes to Statutory Instrument 330 of 2000 are adopted, millions of Zimbabweans may be forced to rely on private surgeries and clinics run by individuals, where fees are beyond the reach of many.
Recently, a Zanu PF-affiliated group, the Pharmacists and Allied Professionals 4ED, said a group of individuals was ready to take over medical-aid-run facilities.
“We reiterate that Zimbabwe has adequate qualified and experienced healthcare professionals with sufficient financial resources and adequate financial support from the government through several empowerment vehicles put in place through various ministries in the country to purchase shares and assume ownership of healthcare centres operated by affected healthcare funders,” said secretary-general Tichaona Musavenganya.
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) recently said the country’s health system was grappling with deep-rooted structural challenges due to decades of underfunding.
According to ZHRC, health facilities are also battling dysfunctional mortuaries, outdated incinerators and poor water and sanitation systems, alongside worsening staff welfare concerns.
The commission warned that without urgent intervention to modernise infrastructure and address resource gaps, Zimbabwe risks further erosion of healthcare standards, despite existing constitutional guarantees.
