Zimbabwe plans to launch its National Health Insurance (NHI) in June 2026 to expand universal health coverage, funded through earmarked taxes. With only 13% covered by medical aid, the NHI will target the uninsured majority, aiming to cut out-of-pocket costs and strengthen equity in health care.
Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Care has renewed its push for the swift rollout of the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, scheduled for launch in June 2026. The Minister of Health, Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, emphasized the scheme’s role in advancing Universal Health Coverage by ensuring that all citizens can access health services without financial hardship. Under NHI, healthcare costs—from consultations and diagnostic tests to treatments and even surgeries—would be covered, eliminating the need for out-of-pocket payments. The financing model will rely on existing and new taxes such as the sugar and airtime levies, which the government seeks to “ring-fence” specifically for health, rather than going into general Treasury revenue.
Currently, only about 13 percent of Zimbabweans are covered through private medical aid schemes, and these are largely limited to formal sector workers. The proposed NHI aims to extend healthcare access to the approximately 90 percent of the population without insurance. Dr. Mombeshora explained that the draft legislation is well-advanced, with Cabinet approval secured and ongoing collaboration with the Ministry of Finance to finalize revenue streams. The bill is now approaching its final stage before Parliament.
During the Zimbabwe Medical Association’s annual congress and a parallel Health Sector Working Group meeting chaired by Health Secretary Dr. Aspect Maunganidze, the urgency of sustainable health financing was underlined. Dr. Maunganidze highlighted the funding gap caused by the withdrawal of U.S. support for key health programs, including those targeting HIV, TB, and malaria. This shortfall, he argued, underscores the importance of domestic resource mobilization and innovative mechanisms like NHI. He stressed that health funding must be viewed as an investment, not a cost, urging Treasury to commit stronger and more predictable financing and reminding policymakers of Zimbabwe’s obligations under the Abuja Declaration to allocate 15 percent of the national budget to health.
Alongside financing reforms, Zimbabwe is also prioritizing improvements in medicine supply, infrastructure rehabilitation, and hospital modernization to strengthen service delivery. Recent health indicators provide both encouragement and concern. The Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey shows maternal mortality dropping dramatically from 651 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 212 in 2024, and life expectancy rising from 61 to 64.4 years. However, neonatal mortality has reached a record high of 37 deaths per 1,000 live births, exposing weaknesses in perinatal and newborn care that demand urgent attention.
The implementation of NHI, combined with continued sectoral investments, is envisioned as a turning point for Zimbabwe’s health system. Officials stress that achieving a resilient and equitable system will require not only government commitment but also strong partnerships and collective ownership across society.
