By Kuda Pembere
Zimbabwe’s already strained public health sector is set to face deeper challenges following rising fuel prices, with health advocates warning of disruptions to service delivery, supply chains and access to care.
Prices of fuel rose from US$1.71 to US$2.05 for diesel and US$1.77 to US$2.17 for blended petrol.
Between January and March, the price o fuel rose by about 40 percent.
In a statement released Friday, the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) said the increase in fuel costs will worsen operational pressures on health institutions that are already grappling with inadequate funding and high costs of care.
“The impact on hospital and clinic budgets is almost immediate,” the group said. “Facilities will have to reallocate resources towards transport and fuel-related expenses, resulting in reduced services or sacrificed programmes.”
Zimbabwe imports nearly all its fuel, exposing the health sector to global price shocks and regional transit costs, which are passed down to end users. CWGH warned that this would drive up the cost of running generators, ambulances and other critical services, particularly in a context of persistent power outages.
The group said supply chains for essential medicines, vaccines and equipment are also at risk, with higher transport costs likely to trigger shortages and price increases.
“For patients, the burden is twofold. Transport costs, food prices and user fees will all rise, increasing out-of-pocket expenditure and potentially affecting health-seeking behaviour, including treatment default,” CWGH said.
Zimbabwe already records high out-of-pocket health spending by global standards, a factor linked to poor health outcomes, particularly among low-income populations.
Health workers are also expected to feel the pinch, with rising transport costs eroding incomes and further affecting morale in a sector already facing staffing challenges.
At a national level, CWGH said the government will come under pressure to increase health sector allocations to cover rising operational costs, at a time when fiscal space remains constrained.
The organisation further warned of broader inflationary effects, noting that fuel price increases have ripple effects across the economy, impacting social determinants of health such as food security and household incomes.
“Service accessibility and delivery of essential health services will be affected, with the most vulnerable populations bearing the greatest burden,” CWGH said.
While the group noted that fuel price shocks may stabilise over time, it cautioned that costs are unlikely to decline quickly, as contracts are renegotiated and market uncertainty persists.
Zimbabwe’s public health system has long struggled with underfunding, erratic supply chains and infrastructure challenges, leaving it highly sensitive to external economic pressures such as fuel price fluctuations.
