Zimbabwe can't afford the medicine it needs. The country set aside $44 million for 2025, but that falls far short. They actually need $17 million every month just for basic medical supplies. The government has failed to stock public hospitals properly for years.
Medical workers earn tiny paychecks in Zimbabwe. The situation looks ready to get worse because foreign helpers might stop sending money. USAID already paused all its programs until further review. UKAID also said it would slash its overseas help budget by a lot.
Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora spoke at a news briefing Friday about what his department accomplished. He explained that even the $17 million monthly need only buy the most crucial medicines. The entire year's budget barely pays for three months of what hospitals really need.
Mombeshora said his team keeps asking the Treasury for more cash as foreign aid dries up. The supply of essential medicines improved from just 22% available in 2023 to about 50% this year because they spent more on drugs than before.
Zimbabwe immediately has two big contracts with medicine suppliers. They pay Intrapharma around $24 million and Clean Planet about $17 million. In 2023, the government set aside $52 million for medicines, which was more than the planned $44 million for next year.
Zimbabwe's health system runs on very little money. It depends heavily on donations from Western countries and organizations. Without this outside help, many more people would lack access to basic healthcare services.
Medical workers earn tiny paychecks in Zimbabwe. The situation looks ready to get worse because foreign helpers might stop sending money. USAID already paused all its programs until further review. UKAID also said it would slash its overseas help budget by a lot.
Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora spoke at a news briefing Friday about what his department accomplished. He explained that even the $17 million monthly need only buy the most crucial medicines. The entire year's budget barely pays for three months of what hospitals really need.
Mombeshora said his team keeps asking the Treasury for more cash as foreign aid dries up. The supply of essential medicines improved from just 22% available in 2023 to about 50% this year because they spent more on drugs than before.
Zimbabwe immediately has two big contracts with medicine suppliers. They pay Intrapharma around $24 million and Clean Planet about $17 million. In 2023, the government set aside $52 million for medicines, which was more than the planned $44 million for next year.
Zimbabwe's health system runs on very little money. It depends heavily on donations from Western countries and organizations. Without this outside help, many more people would lack access to basic healthcare services.
