Zimbabwe’s
health delivery system has been on the decline for decades, while professionals
in the sector have thrown in the towel and left to work in other countries.
At least 4 000
health workers left Zimbabwe to work in other countries such as the United
Kingdom and South Africa as the government struggles to pay competitive
salaries to nurses and doctors.
Speaking during
the official opening of the Tait Medical Centre in Rusape yesterday, Mombeshora
said while many people were seeking the services of traditionalhealers, they
needed to visit hospitals.
“I know 60% of
people, who are gathered here, are seeking the services of n’angas to get
medical assistance,” he said.
“I know that I
am not saying n’angas are not good, but there is a time you need to go to a
hospital.”
Mombeshora’s
remarks come at a time when there are reports of deteriorating conditions in
public hospitals, with patients dying without receiving treatment.
Treasury has
over the years failed to set aside 15% of the national budget for the health
sector, in line with the Abuja Declaration on Health, signed by African Union
(AU) member States in 2001.
The declaration
is a commitment to allocate at least 15% of each country’s annual national
budget to the health sector to improve healthcare systems and achieve universal
health coverage.
The minister
said the government was working on the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill,
which would see Zimbabweans receiving free treatment.
“The Bill is at
final stages and we anticipate presenting it to Parliament this month and with
the full implementation expected in 2026,” he said.
“Every
Zimbabwean will be getting free medication, X-rays at every public hospital.”
Mombeshora said
the government would increase domestic funding for health, improve access to
essential medicines, construct and upgrade health facilities.
He said
Zimbabwe was no longer classified as a high burden country for tuberculosis,
adding that the country had recorded a decline in malaria cases despite
occasional outbreaks. Newsday
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