Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE has shifted its focus from developing health policies to implementing them, with Government and development partners calling for urgent action to strengthen domestic financing, expand the health workforce and improve access to medicines as the country embarks on implementing the National Health Strategy (2026-2030).
Speaking at a High-Level Health Sector Coordination Forum in Harare yesterday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the country already had adequate policies and strategies in place, and the priority was now delivering tangible improvements in health services.
“The task before us is no longer to develop more plans, but to implement the commitments we have made. We have developed strategies, policies, frameworks and action plans. The real test, however, is the quality of services experienced by our people in health facilities across the country,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the strategy provides the roadmap towards universal health coverage through strengthened primary health care, investment in the health workforce, improved access to essential medicines and sustainable financing mechanisms that protect families from catastrophic health costs.
He said priorities identified during technical deliberations held last month included increasing investment in medicines and capital projects, strengthening domestic health financing, addressing critical health worker shortages, improving procurement and supply chains and enhancing health information systems.
“We should not allow an action point to become a permanent presence on our agenda, appearing faithfully at every meeting while making very little progress between meetings,” he said.
The Minister said Government was advancing the National Health Provision Programme as a key reform to establish a more equitable and sustainable healthcare financing system while also strengthening the legal framework through the Medical Services Amendment Act, which now requires private health institutions to provide life-saving emergency treatment for up to 48 hours regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.
Health Services Commission deputy chairperson Dr Abigail Kangwende said Government had authorised the creation of 14 069 additional health sector posts to strengthen service delivery across the country.
“The Commission is implementing an ambitious programme to expand the health workforce by an additional 14 069 posts across all categories of workers. We applaud the Government of Zimbabwe, through Treasury, for authorising the creation and filling of these posts towards meeting the country’s workforce needs,” she said.
Dr Kangwende said while the expansion was a major milestone, Zimbabwe continued to face shortages of specialist doctors, specialist nurses, pharmacists, radiographers and medical laboratory scientists.
She said Government would absorb all development partner-supported health workers into the public service by January next year.
“I am happy to share that by the end of January 2027, all partner-supported health workers will be formally absorbed into Government structures and the Government payroll. This change will strengthen governance, harmonise conditions of service and ensure resilience and sustainability of critical services previously reliant on non-government contracts,” she said.
Dr Kangwende also said the Commission was advocating for village health worker allowances to be included in the 2027 National Budget.
“The health of the nation is inseparable from the health of those workers who deliver the health services,” she said.
United Nations Resident Coordinator Dr Rosemary Kalapurakal, speaking on behalf of health development partners, commended Zimbabwe for significant gains in HIV, maternal and child health and health workforce investments, but warned that declining global health financing made greater domestic investment urgent.
“As we celebrate those successes, we must confront the persistent challenges. Zimbabwe is among one of the very few non-conflict countries in the world where newborn mortality is increasing rather than declining,” she said.
Dr Kalapurakal urged Government to accelerate implementation of sustainable health financing reforms and improve funding for medicines and essential health commodities.
“Sustainable health financing remains one of the most critical issues facing the sector. Increasing Government investment in health, improving budget execution and strengthening public financial management are critical for safeguarding the health gains that Zimbabwe has made,” she said.
She reaffirmed the commitment of development partners to continue supporting Zimbabwe’s health sector.
“Please allow me to restate on behalf of the Health Development Partners our commitment to continue working together with the Government of Zimbabwe as we turn policy into action for achieving transition, sustainability and self-reliance towards universal health coverage,” she said.
