Edwin Moyo
GWERU – Rural communities continue to face significant barriers in accessing quality healthcare, like walking long distances, deteriorating infrastructure, high out-of-pocket medical costs and shortages of healthcare workers being cited.
This was said by the Fight Inequality Alliance (FIA) national coordinator, Nqobizitha Mlambo.
Speaking to the Mid-Week watch during an interview, Mlambo said although healthcare is recognised as a constitutional right many citizens, particularly those living in rural areas are still struggling to obtain timely and affordable medical services.
He said the country’s healthcare infrastructure has not kept pace with the demographic reality that the majority of Zimbabweans live in rural communities.
“About 60 % of Zimbabwe’s population resides in rural areas according to ZIMSTAT. The distribution of public healthcare institutions should therefore reflect both the population and the geographical realities of the country.
“However, the reality is that many rural residents walk between five and 20 kilometres to reach the nearest health facility. This presents serious challenges, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and people living with chronic illnesses.” he added.
Mlambo said most challenges extend beyond the availability of health facilities, noting that many rural clinics and hospitals are operating with ageing infrastructure and inadequate equipment.
“Government had acknowledged these shortcomings through the 2026 National Budget, which allocated about ZiG3.7 billion equivalent to approximately US$147 million at the time for health infrastructure and capital expenditure.
“The allocation demonstrates recognition that there are infrastructure deficits. We need more clinics, more hospitals, better-equipped facilities and adequate healthcare personnel to serve communities effectively. An estimated 90 percent of Zimbabweans rely on out-of-pocket expenditure when seeking healthcare. This places enormous pressure on households already struggling with the high cost of living,” he said.
“If you look, many families are forced to seek financial assistance from relatives or community members when faced with illnesses requiring prolonged or specialised treatment, including cancer and tuberculosis.
“Even common illnesses such as malaria, fever or respiratory infections become difficult to treat when people do not have money to pay for consultations, medication or transport to health facilities,” Mlambo added.
Meanwhile, he welcomed the ongoing efforts towards establishing a National Health Insurance Scheme, saying it has the potential to improve equitable access to healthcare if implemented effectively.
“We are looking forward to the National Health Insurance Bill because it seeks to ensure that every Zimbabwean has medical coverage through a financing model supported by taxes, corporate contributions and other funding mechanisms.
“Our health sector had previously relied significantly on funding from the United States Government through USAID-supported programmes, and the withdrawal of some of that assistance has widened financing gaps that require sustainable domestic solutions.
“Moreso the welfare of healthcare workers remains central to improving service delivery as testified by recent industrial action by nurses at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and other health institutions as evidence of growing concerns over remuneration and working conditions.
“When healthcare professionals are inadequately remunerated, it affects morale and ultimately impacts the quality of care received by patients. I further urge policymakers to prioritise investment in primary healthcare, strengthen health infrastructure, improve conditions of service for medical personnel and accelerate reforms aimed at achieving universal health coverage.
“Healthcare is a constitutional right. Addressing infrastructure gaps, improving financing mechanisms and ensuring motivated healthcare workers are essential steps towards guaranteeing quality healthcare for every Zimbabwean, regardless of where they live,” Mlambo said.
