Mnangagwa hospital rehab fails to fix crumbling infrastructure

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has raised concern that the Presidential hospital rehabilitation programme has made limited progress in addressing the deteriorating state of public health infrastructure across the country.

The programme, launched in June 2025 under the National Development Strategy 2 framework, was intended to upgrade major referral hospitals and rural health centres, including Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Mpilo Central Hospital, and Sally Mugabe Central Hospital.

However, according to the commission, many facilities continue to struggle with ageing infrastructure, equipment shortages, and worsening service conditions, raising doubts about the pace and effectiveness of reforms.

Speaking during World Health Day commemorations, ZHRC chairperson Jessie Majome said the health sector remains under severe strain despite ongoing policy commitments.

She highlighted shortages of essential medicines for chronic illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and mental health conditions, alongside a lack of diagnostic equipment, including CT scanners and dialysis machines.

Majome also pointed to the poor condition of hospital infrastructure, including non-functional mortuaries, outdated incinerators, and persistent water and sanitation challenges affecting patient care.

The commission warned that without urgent intervention, the gap between policy intentions and lived realities in public health facilities will continue to widen, undermining constitutional guarantees of access to healthcare.

Health sector stakeholders have echoed similar concerns. Community Working Group on Health director Itai Rusike said sustainable progress toward universal health coverage depends on stronger public financing and reduced reliance on out-of-pocket spending and external support.

He argued that health systems in Zimbabwe and across the region require long-term investment in both infrastructure and human resources to improve equity and service delivery.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been allocated ZiG30,4 billion in the 2026 national budget, representing about 15% of total expenditure—aligning with the Abuja Declaration benchmark on health funding commitments.

Despite this allocation, stakeholders say a stronger shift toward preventive care, improved staffing distribution, and modernised infrastructure is needed to stabilise the sector and improve outcomes, particularly in underserved rural communities.