Published: 16 hours ago

The Government of Zimbabwe has finalised the draft bill for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), with expectations it could become law by the end of this year.

Speaking at the official opening of the Association of HealthCare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) conference in Victoria Falls on Thursday, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the scheme had been modelled on international best practices to ensure it is well-financed, inclusive, and delivers better healthcare outcomes.

"The Ministry of Health has made great strides in compiling a national health insurance scheme and the draft bill is now at an advanced stage," Dr Mombeshora said. "We are now waiting to present it to Cabinet and Parliament. We are hoping the bill will become law by the end of this year and that the rollout of the scheme will begin sometime next year. By mid-next year, we hope it will be in operation, ensuring universal health coverage for all citizens and residents of Zimbabwe."

The private sector has welcomed the development, noting that the scheme could dramatically expand healthcare access for the majority of Zimbabweans who are currently uninsured.

AHFoZ Chairperson Stanford Sisya said, "As a private sector, we are only covering about 10% of the population. The National Health Insurance Scheme will ensure everyone has access to healthcare, reduce fraud in the private sector, and improve the lifespan for 90% of our people who are not currently covered."

If all goes according to plan, Zimbabwe's National Health Insurance Scheme could begin rolling out by mid-2026, marking a potential turning point for millions currently outside the formal medical system and advancing the country towards universal healthcare access.
- ZBC