HEALTH experts have urged the government to place healthcare at the centre of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda, warning that progress towards universal health coverage will remain slow without stronger prioritisation of the sector.
Speaking at a business indaba at the weekend, Cimas chief executive officer Vulindlela Ndlovu emphasised that healthcare remained one of the most powerful—yet often underappreciated—drivers of sustainable development.
“Healthcare is not peripheral to Zimbabwe’s transformational agenda. It is one of its most powerful enablers. Too often, healthcare is framed as a social service, yet evidence tells us the opposite. Health is productive capital; it is what makes growth possible,” said Ndlovu.
He noted that more than 90 percent of Zimbabweans remain uninsured, resulting in unequal access to services and high out-of-pocket costs that continue to strain households and weaken economic productivity.
“Out-of-pocket spending forces families into difficult trade-offs: food, school fees, and other essentials. These are not just health sector issues; they are economic issues sitting in the path of our development,” he said.
Ndlovu acknowledged ongoing government efforts to reform the sector but stressed that collaboration with the private sector is critical.
“While efforts are being made by the government to strengthen the health sector, universal health coverage is not only a social imperative; it is an economic one. But it will only succeed if it is built with the private sector—not around it, but together as partners,” he said.
He also called for a shift from a reactive healthcare model to one focused on prevention and primary care.
“The smarter model intervenes earlier, ensuring screening, wellness, and strong primary care. This has higher returns, both financial and social,” Ndlovu said.
Ndlovu further emphasised the importance of a patient-centred approach, saying it would enhance efficiency, trust, and long-term sustainability in the healthcare system.
“When policy is designed from the patient perspective, the system becomes more trusted, more efficient, and more sustainable. Health outcomes must be at the centre,” he said.
He added that building a modern health system requires the right skills, equitable distribution of resources, and digitally connected infrastructure supported by integrated technology systems.
“Also, a modern health system depends on the right skills, well-distributed and digitally connected infrastructure, and integrated technology systems that improve care continuity and planning. Health is not merely a consequence of development; it is one of its causes.
If we get healthcare right, it will not sit on the margins of development and it will help drive it,” Ndlovu added.