Zimbabweans Set to Receive Free Treatment at Government Hospitals Under Proposed National Health Fund Bill

HARARE – All Zimbabweans could soon access free medical treatment at government hospitals and other public health institutions if the proposed National Health Fund Bill is enacted, Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora has revealed.

Speaking in the Senate on Thursday, Mombeshora said the proposed legislation seeks to establish a sustainable healthcare financing system that will enable citizens to receive treatment at public hospitals without paying directly for services at the point of care. The minister was responding to questions from legislators regarding access to newly acquired cancer treatment equipment and broader government efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe's healthcare system.

Mombeshora said the Bill, which was previously referred to as the National Health Insurance initiative, has now been finalised and is expected to be presented before Cabinet before being tabled in Parliament.

According to the minister, the proposed National Health Fund will be financed through dedicated taxes on products linked to health risks, including cigarettes and alcohol, with the revenue channelled towards improving public healthcare services.

"We came up with the final draft last week, and this week I have written a letter to the Cabinet Committee on Legislation. From there it will go to the Cabinet and then Parliament," Mombeshora told senators.

The proposed legislation is expected to create a long-term funding mechanism for Zimbabwe's public health sector while reducing the financial burden on patients seeking medical care.

Mombeshora said the ultimate objective of the Bill is to ensure universal access to healthcare for all Zimbabweans regardless of their economic status.

"In that Bill, every citizen in Zimbabwe must be able to be treated in all Government hospitals for free," he said.

While describing the healthcare services as free at the point of access, the minister clarified that the system would be funded through taxes collected on products that contribute to health challenges.

"It is not totally free because we are taking some tax from cigarettes and alcohol, which are causing harm to people, and using that money to improve our health system."

The proposal mirrors healthcare financing models used in several countries where taxes on tobacco and alcohol products help fund public health programmes and medical services.

The discussion in the Senate also focused on the installation of modern cancer treatment equipment at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo. Senator Robson Mavhenyengwa sought clarification on how disadvantaged citizens would benefit from the specialised equipment and raised concerns about access for patients living in remote areas.

In response, Mombeshora said the government was pursuing a dual strategy of healthcare financing reforms and decentralisation of specialised medical services to ensure equitable access across the country. He noted that existing government programmes already provide assistance to vulnerable citizens through social welfare mechanisms.

"We have a Government policy that those who are disadvantaged and do not have money must go to social services and get their dues paid," he said.

The proposed National Health Fund Bill forms part of Zimbabwe's broader efforts to achieve universal health coverage and improve healthcare delivery. Health sector experts have long argued that sustainable financing remains one of the key challenges facing Zimbabwe's public healthcare system, with many patients struggling to afford treatment costs. If enacted, the legislation could mark one of the most significant reforms to Zimbabwe's healthcare financing framework in recent years, potentially expanding access to medical services, specialist treatment, and life-saving care for millions of citizens.

National Health Fund Bill Zimbabwe