Misdiagnosis Fears Rise as Gaps Emerge in Zimbabwe’s Expanding Medical Laboratory Sector

Concerns are growing over misdiagnosis in Zimbabwe as rapid expansion of medical laboratories outpaces regulation (image source)

WHEN Magawa fell ill, she trusted the diagnosis she was given until it nearly cost her life. After more than two weeks on prescribed medication, her condition worsened significantly. A second set of blood tests, conducted at a different laboratory, revealed the initial diagnosis was incorrect. “I tasted death,” she said. “It turned out I didn’t have a kidney problem at all — just a minor urinary infection.” Her ordeal reflects growing concerns among patients and medical professionals over inconsistent laboratory test results in Zimbabwe’s rapidly expanding diagnostic sector.

Zimbabwe’s laboratory capacity grew sharply during the Covid-19 pandemic. By December 2020, the Ministry of Health and Child Care had licensed 29 private laboratories for Covid-19 testing, bringing the total number of approved centres to 58 across public, private and NGO sectors. By mid-2021, hundreds of smaller clinics were offering rapid tests, filling a critical gap but also exposing systemic weaknesses. Some facilities lacked trained personnel, validated equipment and quality assurance systems, prompting the ministry to warn that results from unauthorised laboratories would be deemed invalid under the Health Professions Act.

Post-pandemic, many of these laboratories expanded into broader diagnostic services, but concerns have persisted. Alois Muzvaba, a medical doctor and member of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association, said questionable results are now routine. “I receive two to three questionable results every day,” he said. “When laboratory findings don’t align with the clinical picture, we are forced to request retests, which delays treatment and increases costs for patients.”

Zimbabwe currently has more than 170 formally registered diagnostic centres, while the Health Professions Authority says over 3 500 health institutions are registered nationwide, with 667 new facilities added in 2025 alone. Doctors say regulation has struggled to keep pace. Dr Moyo, a Harare-based private practitioner, said inconsistencies are more common among smaller laboratories, though larger ones are not immune. “Repeated discrepancies point to poor standards of practice,” he said. “Patients often end up paying twice for the same test.”

Cost pressures further complicate the problem. A single urea and electrolytes (U&E) test can cost anywhere between US$10 and US$25, pushing patients towards cheaper options that may compromise quality. Laboratory experts warn that some pricing models are unrealistic. “You cannot charge US$5 for a full blood count when reagents alone cost US$7,” Muzvaba said. “That suggests shortcuts.” Meanwhile, public hospitals remain under-resourced, with studies indicating that 92% of primary-level public facilities lack full laboratory services, forcing patients into the private sector.

Although government has launched a National Health Laboratory Strategic Plan (2025–2030) aimed at improving accreditation and oversight, experts caution that without adequate funding, staffing and enforcement, the risk of misdiagnosis will remain high. For patients like Magawa, the consequences are deeply personal. “I no longer trust test results,” she said. “I always seek a second opinion, because my life depends on it.”