Category: Health Financing

Regulatory Rift: Medical Aid Sector Say No to IPEC, While Doctors and Private Hospitals Say It’s Time

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The medical aid industry and healthcare service providers appear to be at odds regarding the proposed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024. If passed into law, the IPEC Bill will see the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) surrender regulation of the medical aid sector to the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC), which falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024, introduces significant reforms aimed at strengthening regulation, transparency, and policyholder…

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Proposed IPEC Bill Could Collapse Zimbabwe ‘s Medical Aid Societies Sector- AHFoZ Warns

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has raised alarm over the proposed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Amendment Bill of 2024, warning that the new regulations could destabilize the country’s medical aid system and lead to its eventual collapse. The Bill, which seeks to classify Medical Aid Societies under financial services for regulation by IPEC, has sparked widespread concern among healthcare stakeholders who argue that the move could have far-reaching consequences for both the medical aid sector and the broader healthcare ecosystem. The proposed legislation,…

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National Health Insurance Draft Bill Set for Parliamentary Debate by June

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Zimbabweans may have to wait longer for the long-awaited National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme, as its draft bill is now expected to be presented to Parliament in June. With fewer than 10% of Zimbabweans covered by medical insurance, the Health Ministry has debated the NHI for decades without implementation. In March last year, Health and Child Care Minister Dr. Douglas Mombeshora indicated that the NHI would be introduced in July. By May, he said it would be tabled before Parliament that same July. Reviving this commitment, the…

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Zimbabwe Launches Health Insurance Proficiency Program to Elevate Industry Standards

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa In an effort to enhance efficiency and professionalism within the health insurance and medical aid sectors, the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) has launched a Certificate of Proficiency in Health Insurance in collaboration with the Insurance Institute of Zimbabwe (IIZ). Speaking at the launch event, AHFoZ Board Chairman Stanford Sisya described the partnership as a milestone in the evolution of Zimbabwe’s medical aid industry. The Certificate of Proficiency is not just another qualification; it is a transformative learning initiative designed to address the unique challenges…

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2025 National Budget Fails to Prioritize Health Sector: CWGH Analysis

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The 2025 National Budget allocation for Zimbabwe’s health sector has raised significant concerns among health advocates and stakeholders, including the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH). With health expenditure shrinking in real terms, CWGH Executive Director Itai Rusike emphasized that the budget falls short of addressing the country’s critical health challenges, risking further strain on an already fragile system. Declining Health Expenditure The Ministry of Health and Child Care has been allocated ZiG28.3 billion (US$785.9 million) in 2025, representing 10.2% of the national budget, a decrease from…

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No New Taxes To Be Introduced Under National Health Insurance

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Funds for Zimbabwe’s soon-to-be-implemented National Health Insurance (NHI) will be drawn from existing taxes and various sectors to minimize the financial burden on citizens, a senior government health economist has revealed. The principles of Zimbabwe’s NHI Fund have been approved by the Cabinet. This fund will pool resources from multiple sources into a single account, which will then finance the essential health services package. Targeted funding sources include local authority contributions, earmarked levies, health bonds, the Assisted Medical Treatment Order (AMTO), state contributions, portions of the War…

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Salutem, NetOne launch US$1-a-month medical cover

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Salutem International Medical Fund and NetOne through its mobile money platform One Money on Tuesday launched a medical aid scheme where all Zimbabweans can pay as little as US$1-a-month. The Salutem One Health scheme also intends to end the hassles services providers of long waiting periods to get paid for their services by medical aid funds. Under this scheme, subscribers have access to basic primary health care services which include the basic general practitioner consultations alongside getting generic medicines. The medical aid product has a three-month waiting…

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Harare City Introduces Health Insurance

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere A community health insurance scheme covering several health services for Harare City’s citizens should be operational before the month ends, HealthTimes has learned. In an interview with the Harare Municipality Health Services Manager Mr Richard Chigerwe, he said the scheme was different from the Harare Municipality Medical Aid which covers their employees. He said residents will have to pay a monthly subscription of US$2 to access various healthcare services under the scheme named “Utano Wedu”. Harare Municipal Medical aid is a closed medical aid for City Council…

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Fraudulent claims bleed Zim’s healthcare funders over US$500 000 every quarter

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFoZ) is convinced that healthcare funders could be losing more than US$500 000 every quarter on the back of fraudulent claims made by some cartels in the health sector. The funds recovered in 2022, a period in which healthcare fund members collectively paid more than US$164 million towards settlements of claims by clients. In some cases, corrupt syndicates involving pharmacists and doctors would generate fraudulent medical aid claims and receive money for services not rendered AHFoZ board chair Mr Stanford…

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National Health Insurance stakeholder consultations begin in Zim

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere The Health and Child Care Ministry has commenced consultative engagements with stakeholders for the implementation of the National Health Insurance, a much expected and mulled over for 25 years health insurance product. At a time when over 90 percent of the country are uninsured health-wise, this NHI comes in designed to pool funds to provide access to quality, affordable basic health care services for the population of Zimbabwe according to their health needs, irrespective of their socioeconomic status. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the stakeholders’…

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