UZ Quinary Hospital Targets Specialist Healthcare Expansion by 2027

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

Zimbabwe’s efforts to expand specialised healthcare are gathering momentum, with construction of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) Quinary Hospital progressing towards the development of a facility expected to strengthen specialist treatment, medical training and research.

The hospital is expected to improve access to advanced healthcare locally, reduce the number of patients travelling abroad for complex treatment and build Zimbabwe’s capacity to train and retain highly specialised medical professionals. Once completed and fully equipped, the facility is expected to provide treatment for complex conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and kidney disorders, as well as services for high-risk pregnancies.

UZ Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Mapfumo said the hospital would help medical personnel acquire super-specialist qualifications while creating opportunities for research and revenue generation through specialised healthcare services. “What this hospital will do is train our medical personnel to the super-specialist level, equipping them with advanced medical skills to deliver health solutions. Super-specialisation enables research and also attracts revenue through the provision of specialised services,” he said.

Professor Mapfumo said the facility would provide a public healthcare platform where specialists could deliver advanced services, potentially reducing the need for Zimbabweans to seek treatment outside the country. “This hospital will facilitate the movement of patients and specialists, allowing specialists to provide services from this public facility. If this works as intended, the number of people seeking treatment outside the country will be reduced. We will also be exporting skills, as we say,” he said.

He added that the UZ Specialist Medical Centre, which forms part of the wider development, was already operational and offering oral and eye healthcare services.

Hospital to be developed in two phases

UZ Director of Engineering Infrastructure and Estates, Engineer Tinotenda Dzadagu, said the Quinary Hospital project was being implemented in two phases, with the first expected to be completed by mid-2027. Phase One comprises seven blocks covering administration, outpatient services, pharmacy, cardiology, oncology, laundry and maintenance. Supporting infrastructure, including a laboratory, is also part of the development.

Procurement of specialised medical equipment is underway, with some installations expected to begin before construction is completed to help prepare the facility for service delivery. “Under Phase One, we have seven blocks: the administration block, the outpatient department block, the pharmacy, cardiology, oncology, laundry and maintenance blocks,” Dzadagu said.

Phase Two is expected to broaden the hospital’s capacity by introducing renal services, foetal and maternal medicine, and public and environmental health facilities. “We expect Phase One to be completed by the middle of next year, while Phase Two is expected to be completed by the end of 2028,” he said.

Focus on specialist skills and research

The Quinary Hospital is expected to complement the UZ Specialist Medical Centre by expanding the range of specialist services available in Zimbabwe. Beyond patient care, the project is intended to strengthen medical research, improve specialist training and develop advanced clinical expertise within the country.

The planned expansion could also create opportunities for Zimbabwean medical professionals to acquire advanced qualifications and practise their specialist skills locally, while improving access to services that may otherwise require patients to travel abroad.

However, the hospital’s ability to deliver on these objectives will depend on the timely completion of construction, installation of specialised equipment and recruitment or availability of appropriately trained personnel. If successfully implemented, the project could become an important addition to Zimbabwe’s specialist healthcare infrastructure, supporting efforts to improve access to complex medical treatment while strengthening the country’s medical education and research capacity.

UZ Quinary Hospital