Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. A STRONG health system is a prerequisite for sound economic development.
It is undeniable that health and development are symbiotic in nature.
The World Health Organisation put forward six building blocks that constitute the health system and failure of one pillar means a shambolic and a shaky structure.
Many Zimbabweans are continuously losing confidence in the public health system, which for too long has been characterised by poor service delivery emanating from drug shortages, a demotivated workforce, obsolete equipment, maladministration, corruption to mention just but a few.
The problems seem to be perennial and it now requires diligent and dedicated leadership if solutions are to be found.
Health financing has remained topical in the country with the health sector getting far less than its expectation.
In 2022, budgetary allocation to the Health ministry was around 10,6%, while in 2023, it rose to 11,2%, then 2024 and 2025 it was 10,8% and 13%, respectively.
These figures are not convincing considering the Abuja Declaration that says for African countries to make health milestones, at least 15% of their national budgets should be allocated to the health sector.
The Health and Child Care ministry has already sounded alarm over the impending budgetary allocation reduction for 2026 by the Finance ministry.
If really there is going to be less funding for the Health ministry next year, then I foresee stagnation on many programmes that should benefit our people.
This is not the time to reduce the Health ministry budget allocation, especially taking into cognisance the withdrawal of major donors like United States Agency for International Development, the President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief after the American government withdrew funding to affiliate organisations.
Public health is under threat in the country and policymakers should understand that health and development are symbiotic in nature.
A country with poor health deliverables faces sluggish development, therefore, the need to upscale health service delivery.
Our country needs to improve on health capital budgeting, hence the need for Treasury to be serious about the health sector.
Depending on donors alone is one bad habit that needs to be eradicated from our mindset as they can withdraw funding anytime they want.
There is a myriad of challenges in the health sector, chief among them being the incessant brain drain which is threatening our health system.
Health workforce is a powerful building block of a health system.
Media sources claim that at least 8 500 health workers have emigrated to greener pastures in the last four years.
Hospitals are now seen as death hubs with no drugs, personnel or tools of trade. The country requires in excess of US$16 million per month for drugs alone and more to cater for 57 000 workers.
The workers are demotivated, morale is at its lowest and government should move with speed to curb brain drain.
Zimbabwe has become a training ground for health workers, only to lose them to developed countries which poach from our nests.
Sadly the government will have expended millions of dollars training such workers.
Questions still linger as to why there is no permanent solution to the crisis in the health sector.
Many ministers have come and gone, many directors are in office, new chief executive officers have come, alas, no notable change in health service delivery is witnessed.
The biggest asset of any organisation is its human resource and failure to pay attention to the health workforce is tantamount to complete annihilation of the health sector.
Government has capacity to motivate its workers, but it always fail at the implementation stage.
Health workers’ salaries should be comparable to those of their peers in the region.
When this happens, no one will leave to work in neighbouring countries such as Namibia, Botswana, South Africa and many others.
This calls for seriousness on the part of government to incentivise its workers with vehicle loans, residential stands, farming land, duty-free facilities.
Calls for such considerations have become a chorus, yet for a long time, those supposed to act have paid lip service.
The Finance ministry should be at the forefront of restoring the health of the nation as the country continues to suffer high morbidity and mortality rates.
We continue to suffer from outbreaks of embarrassing diseases like cholera, a Stone Age disease that should not be talked about in the 21st century.
Strengthening our water infrastructure also remains critical.
There is need to observe good sanitation if the diarrhoeal disease is to be contained.
The Finance ministry needs to look seriously into the state of the Health ministry if we are to be a country with a sound health system.
Vision 2030 should be made easy by funding the health sector, which is possible if government expenditure is reduced.
Universal health coverage for all of us sooner than later!
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