Elderly hit by drug shortages in Zimbabwe's public hospitals

Elderly residents in Bulawayo are increasingly being forced to purchase medication from private pharmacies despite seeking treatment at public hospitals, raising concerns about the effectiveness of healthcare support programmes intended to benefit senior citizens.

Community leaders and residents say the growing practice of issuing prescriptions for medicines unavailable in public facilities is placing a heavy financial burden on older patients, many of whom survive on limited pensions or support from relatives.

Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) chairperson Winos Dube said the gap between government policy and the reality on the ground has become increasingly evident, particularly for elderly citizens who are supposed to receive subsidised or free healthcare.

According to Dube, many patients are admitted to public hospitals and receive consultations, only to be handed prescriptions and instructed to purchase the required medicines elsewhere.

"You go to a hospital and when you are admitted, the next thing you get is a prescription. They prescribe what you need, then you go out and buy it," Dube said.

He questioned whether public hospitals were fulfilling their intended role if patients continued to shoulder the cost of medicines after receiving treatment.

"The big question people are asking is: what are the hospitals then doing for us if we still have to buy medicine outside?" he said.

Dube said the situation is particularly difficult for elderly patients, who are expected to benefit from government healthcare support programmes aimed at citizens aged 60 or 65 years and above.

"In theory, elderly people are supposed to get treatment free of charge. But in reality, even if you are admitted, you still get a prescription and are told to go and buy tablets outside," he said.

Zimbabwe's public healthcare system has long struggled with medicine shortages, funding constraints and growing demand for services.

Health sector experts have frequently attributed shortages of essential medicines to procurement challenges, supply chain disruptions and limited foreign currency availability for imports.

As a result, patients attending public health institutions are often required to purchase medicines from private pharmacies when hospitals run out of stock.

For many elderly citizens, the additional costs can be overwhelming.

"Many of us survive on pensions or family support, making out-of-pocket medical purchases unsustainable," said one resident, Gogo MaNdiweni.

Residents' organisations argue that the persistent shortages undermine efforts to achieve universal access to healthcare and disproportionately affect vulnerable groups who rely heavily on public services.

They contend that healthcare exemptions and support measures for senior citizens lose their value when patients are still required to purchase medication privately.

The Ministry of Health and Child Care has previously acknowledged challenges affecting medicine availability in public hospitals, citing funding limitations and procurement constraints.

Authorities have also indicated that measures are being implemented to strengthen supply chains and improve access to essential medicines, although shortages continue to be reported at some facilities.

Residents are now calling for urgent reforms to hospital procurement and distribution systems, as well as stricter implementation of healthcare support programmes for the elderly.

They argue that without meaningful intervention, public hospitals risk becoming centres that provide consultations and diagnoses without guaranteeing access to treatment.

"This is something that really needs to be addressed," said Bulawayo resident Memory Nkowane.

"People are appealing to relevant authorities and the government to look into hospital issues very seriously."

The concerns highlight the broader challenges facing Zimbabwe's healthcare sector as authorities seek to balance increasing demand for services with limited resources, while ensuring that vulnerable groups receive the support promised under existing healthcare policies.