Proposed IPEC Bill Could Collapse Zimbabwe ‘s Medical Aid Societies Sector- AHFoZ Warns
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
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Cimas Health Group Partners Smilestar, a United Kingdom-Based Dental Organisation
By Staff Reporter In a successful partnership aimed at improving oral healthcare access for underserved communities, Smilestar, a UK-based charity dental organization, joined forces with Cimas Health Group, Zimbabwe’s longest-established private medical aid society. Together, they conducted a two-week dental outreach program in Matabeleland North, offering essential services to remote populations. The outreach, which concluded on
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National Health Insurance Draft Bill Set for Parliamentary Debate by June
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
Read MoreThe United Nations Human Rights Council commends Zimbabwe’s abolition of the Death Penalty
By Michael Gwarisa The United Nations Human Rights Council has commended Zimbabwe for its historic decision to abolish the death penalty, marking a significant milestone in the country’s human rights journey. The announcement was made during a high-level panel discussion at the UN Human Rights Council on February 25, 2025, where Zimbabwe’s Attorney General, Honourable
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EMA Strengthens AMR Surveillance with Fleming Fund Support
By Michael Gwarisa The Ministry of Environment, Climate, and Wildlife has commended the first phase of the Fleming Fund Grant for supporting the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) in strengthening its surveillance and tracking of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in the environment. Zimbabwe recently launched the second phase of the One Health National Action Plan (2024-2028) alongside
Read MoreZimbabwe Unveils AMR National Action Plan 2.0 as Calls for Domestic Funding Grow
By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe requires approximately US$45 million to effectively implement Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) interventions over the next four years, HealthTimes has learned. This was revealed during the official launch of the National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance in Zimbabwe (NAP 2.0), where the Fleming Fund also announced an additional US$3.5 million in funding to
Read More#EpidemiologyUpdate: Zimbabwe Records Four Suspected Measles Cases
According to the Ministry of Health’s weekly disease surveillance report for the week ending January 19, 2025, four new suspected measles cases were recorded across three provinces. The cases were distributed as follows: one in Mashonaland West, one in Mashonaland East, and two in Harare Metropolitan Province. This brings the cumulative number of suspected measles
Read MoreZimbabwe Launches Health Insurance Proficiency Program to Elevate Industry Standards
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
Read MoreZimbabwe’s Data-to-Policy Insights Reveal Solutions to Curb Maternal Mortality, Costly Cancer Diagnoses, Unregistered Deaths & Rising GBV Cases
By Michael Gwarisa Amid critical gaps in key health and social indicators, findings from a four-month-long Data-to-Policy training program have underscored the urgent need for policy interventions, Health Times has learned. The Data-to-Policy program, launched by Vital Strategies in collaboration with the United States Centers for Disease Control Foundation and the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency
Read MoreAntibiotic Resistance is Here. Millions of People are Dying
Reporters: Aline Suárez del Real, Edna Namara, Evidence Chenjerai, Gabriela Meléndez-Rivera, Lucila Pellettieri, Odonchimeg Batsukh, Sunita Neupane For years, Radha Lama bought antibiotics in bulk at a clinic near her home in Kathmandu, Nepal. She took the pills whenever she had a stomachache or headache, without talking to a doctor or nurse, says her daughter
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