Hospital infrastructure upgrade targets rural areas

The Government of Zimbabwe has unveiled plans to establish at least one fully equipped hospital in every district, a move aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, reducing pressure on central referral hospitals, and improving access to quality services, particularly in underserved rural areas.

The initiative forms a key component of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) for 2026–2030, which positions health at the centre of the country's socio-economic transformation agenda. According to the strategy, authorities will prioritise the construction of new district hospitals and rural health centres while upgrading and modernising existing facilities through the National Medical Services (NMS) Infrastructure Programme.

To support the programme, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has been allocated ZiG30,4 billion in the 2026 budget, representing 15 percent of national expenditure, in line with the Abuja Declaration that commits African countries to allocate at least 15 percent of their budgets to health.

Zimbabwe's healthcare network currently comprises 214 hospitals, including 120 Government-run facilities, 66 mission hospitals, and 32 private institutions. At the top of the tiered system are six central hospitals—Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Harare Central Hospital (Sally Mugabe), Mpilo Central Hospital, United Bulawayo Hospitals, Chitungwiza Central Hospital, and Ingutsheni Hospital, which specialises in psychiatric care.

Under NDS2, a fully equipped district hospital is expected to offer comprehensive secondary healthcare services, including diagnostic imaging such as X-rays and CT scans, well-resourced laboratories, intensive care units, modern medical equipment, and digital health technologies. This approach aims to ensure patients receive timely treatment closer to their communities, reducing delays and costs associated with referrals to central hospitals.

The strategy also highlights human resources as a critical element. By 2030, the Government aims to double the health workforce, creating at least 32 000 additional public health jobs. The Health Service Commission projects that this expansion could stimulate over 100 000 additional jobs across related sectors, including pharmaceuticals, transport, equipment maintenance, and catering.

Beyond infrastructure and staffing, the programme seeks to enhance universal access to quality health, education, and other social services, improving overall wellbeing and equity. Once fully implemented, the district hospital expansion and modernisation programme is expected to significantly strengthen Zimbabwe's healthcare system and advance the Government's long-term development objectives under NDS2.