HEALTH WORKER EXODUS LEAVES 14,000 VACANCIES

Zimbabwe’s health sector faces a critical shortage of 14,000 workers after mass emigration (image source)

Zimbabwe’s public health system is reeling from a severe staffing crisis, with Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora revealing that 14,000 posts remain unfilled following years of professional emigration. Addressing a strategic review and planning workshop in Mutare, the minister said government has approved recruitment for all vacant positions and aims to fill 5,284 of them by December. He described the situation as an urgent national priority, noting that the departure of doctors, nurses and pharmacists to the United Kingdom, United States, Australia and other destinations has weakened service delivery across the country. “We will build a resilient, equitable and high-performing health system, where resources are used effectively and quality care is a right, not a privilege,” he said.

Health facilities nationwide report chronic understaffing that has resulted in longer waiting times, reduced clinic hours and the scaling back of specialised services. Rural hospitals have suffered the most, operating with skeletal staff, limited emergency response capacity and curtailed outreach programmes. Mombeshora warned that without decisive intervention, the system risks further decline and deeper inequalities in access to care.

The recruitment plan forms part of a larger strategy combining immediate hiring with long-term retention reforms. The minister stressed that improved salaries, better working conditions and strategic deployment are essential to retain staff within the public sector. He urged health managers to reinforce primary care and rural facilities to ease the burden on central hospitals. The ministry also intends to expand training pipelines, fast-track the certification of new nurses and prioritise critical cadres in high-need districts. Housing, transport support and on-the-job professional resources are among the incentives under review.

Financing remains a major constraint, with government exploring domestic solutions as donor support decreases. Mombeshora confirmed that the National Health Insurance Bill will be tabled before Parliament by year-end, positioning it as a tool to secure stable funding for salaries, infrastructural upgrades and community health programmes. Preventive care will also be prioritised to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and strengthen the efficiency of lower-level facilities.

Digital transformation featured prominently in the minister’s address, with planned investments in telemedicine, electronic health records and stronger data systems. He said digital tools would expand access to specialist services through remote consultations and support continuous professional development for clinicians in underserved districts. Mombeshora called for unified collaboration between government, training institutions, professional bodies and development partners to develop sustainable retention packages and clear career pathways.

Analysts warn that the recruitment drive will test both fiscal space and administrative capacity, requiring transparent processes, efficient payroll systems and safeguards against ghost workers. Retention will ultimately depend on meaningful improvements in pay, safety and career progression — the factors that triggered the initial exodus. According to the ministry’s plan, success will be measured not only by staffing numbers but by improved service coverage, shorter queues and stronger primary care. With thousands of posts set to be filled, the coming months will be a critical test of whether policy commitments can deliver real relief to hospitals, clinics and the millions of Zimbabweans who depend on public health services.