The Ministry of Health and Child Care has announced plans to fast-track the rollout of the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, which is slated to take effect in June 2026.
Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora made the announcement during the Zimbabwe Medical Association (ZiMA) annual Scientific Congress in Bulawayo last Friday, stressing that achieving universal health coverage is now a national priority.
“We are determined to ensure every Zimbabwean can access quality healthcare without financial hardship.
“The NHI fund will guarantee free access to essential health services, from consultations to surgery, with contributions raised through targeted taxes.”
Currently, only around 13 per cent of Zimbabweans have medical aid coverage, leaving the majority to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare services.
Mombeshora said the NHI will help bridge this gap by pooling resources from existing taxes, such as the sugar levy and airtime tax, which will be ring-fenced specifically for health.
He added that the draft Bill supporting the scheme has already undergone two revisions and has been approved in principle by Cabinet.
“We have completed consultations with the finance ministry on revenue streams. The next stage is parliament’s approval, after which operationalisation will begin.”
Zimbabwe has been considering the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme for nearly 25 years, but Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora stressed that the current push represents a decisive step forward.
He added that the country now has the guiding principles, a draft Bill, and the political will necessary to make universal health coverage a reality.
