Zimbabwe scrambles to avert medicine crisis

Zimbabwe's healthcare system remains under intense pressure from medicine shortages, ageing infrastructure, staff migration and rising treatment costs, but government says it remains firmly committed to achieving universal health coverage through increased investment, workforce expansion and hospital modernisation.

In an interview, Health and Child Care permanent secretary Aspect Maunganidze defended government's health sector reforms, arguing that while challenges persist, significant progress is being made to strengthen public healthcare services.

Addressing concerns over shortages of medicines, equipment and other essentials at public hospitals, Maunganidze dismissed suggestions that government had abandoned universal healthcare.

"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," he said.

He acknowledged that public health facilities continue to face intermittent shortages of medicines, consumables and critical equipment, attributing the situation to growing demand, supply chain constraints and broader economic pressures affecting health systems globally.

According to Maunganidze, medicine availability at public health institutions currently averages 47 percent against a target minimum stock level of 50 percent.

To improve supplies, Treasury is mobilising US$10 million to support procurement contracts through National Pharmaceutical Company, with the aim of increasing medicine availability above 55 percent and ensuring equitable distribution nationwide.

The permanent secretary said government has also expanded investment in medical technology through the National Development Strategy, with hospitals receiving digital X-ray machines, MRI and CT scanners, theatre equipment, anaesthetic machines, neonatal equipment and advanced laboratory technologies.

He added that new cancer treatment equipment is being installed at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital to improve access to specialised care.

"Government is steadily modernising the health system, strengthening access to medicines and equipment, and improving the quality of care available to all Zimbabweans," Maunganidze said.

On the continued migration of doctors and nurses, he said Zimbabwe was not training health workers for export but was implementing measures to strengthen and retain its workforce.

He cited the Health Workforce Investment Compact, a US$1.43 billion initiative aimed at doubling the country's health workforce by 2030.

More than 88 percent of the compact's funding is directed towards workforce development, with Treasury having approved 5,284 posts for 2025 and a further 8,785 for 2026.

Government has also established the Health Service Commission to oversee recruitment, deployment, retention and professional development of healthcare workers.

Additional measures include investment in training institutions, expansion of e-learning programmes, rural retention incentives worth US$11 million and efforts to engage Zimbabwean healthcare professionals in the diaspora through skills transfer and mentorship initiatives.

Responding to criticism over deteriorating conditions in some hospitals despite repeated rehabilitation announcements, Maunganidze said infrastructure renewal was a long-term process.

"Large-scale health infrastructure transformation is a process rather than an event," he said.

He pointed to ongoing work under the Presidential Hospital Renovation Programme at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, Sally Mugabe Central Hospital and Mpilo Central Hospital, with plans to extend upgrades to other central and provincial hospitals.

The programme includes infrastructure rehabilitation, replacement of obsolete equipment and improvements to specialised medical services.

Maunganidze also highlighted the impact of the sugar tax introduced to support healthcare financing.

According to the ministry, revenue from the levy has helped fund the procurement of advanced radiotherapy equipment currently being installed at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo hospitals.

Government is also pursuing the decentralisation of cancer treatment services to provincial hospitals in Mutare, Gweru, Masvingo and Chinhoyi, reducing travel costs and improving access to specialist care.

On concerns about transparency and corruption in public health procurement, Maunganidze said the ministry maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards abuse of public resources.

He said procurement processes are conducted under the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act and managed through the electronic Government Procurement System, which provides public advertising, competitive bidding and audit trails designed to reduce opportunities for manipulation.

"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," he said.

While acknowledging that rebuilding public confidence remains an ongoing challenge, Maunganidze said the ministry continues to strengthen internal audits, regulatory oversight and accountability mechanisms to ensure resources are directed towards medicines, infrastructure development and healthcare personnel.

"Our responsibility is to ensure that every public dollar achieves maximum benefit for patients," he said.

The remarks come at a time when Zimbabwe's health sector faces mounting pressure to improve service delivery while balancing rising healthcare demand, workforce retention challenges and the need for continued infrastructure modernisation.