By Tendai Matunhu
Investment in research, development and international cooperation are important to enhance accessibility to medicines for universal health coverage said President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa said this whilst addressing a high level meeting on Universal Health Coverage during the 74th ordinary session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States, yesterday.
President Mnangagwa pleaded to stakeholders to facilitate greater investments in research, development and technological transfer so as to enhance accessibility and affordability of medicines for universal coverage.
President Mnangagwa tweeted, “I spoke at the UN today about the importance of investment in research, development and international cooperation, in order to enhance accessibility and affordability of medicines for Universal Health Coverage. We are working hard to make sure that no one is left behind.”
President Mnangagwa also said Government’s efforts to modernise its primary healthcare is being hindered by the illegal sanctions that were imposed on the country.
“The current challenge is to modernise primary healthcare. Sadly, however, our efforts are being greatly hampered by the ruinous illegal sanctions imposed on our country. While we have made significant strides in ensuring that no one should travel more than 10km to reach a health service, some communities still have limited access to health facilities.
“Government is constructing health posts, clinics and hospitals in remote areas to address this challenge. A total of 6 600 health posts will be constructed over the next five years,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also said Government was working on establishing independent private hospitals and that Zimbabwe is open for business in the health sector as attested by the countries national development agenda.
“Our programs prioritising maternal, neonatal and child health have seen remarkable increase in access to basic quality care services. There are, therefore, opportunities for the establishment of independent private hospitals and medicine manufacturing plants. Zimbabwe indeed is open for business in the health sector.
“Our national development agenda, the National Health Strategy 2016 - 2020 under the theme, ‘Equity and Quality: Leave no one behind’, attests to this commitment,” said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa highlighted that Government launched the Health Financing Policy in 2018 with the aim of giving a boost to Zimbabwe’s health delivery system through robust and sustainable domestic health funding. He added that in addition to the Aids Levy, Government also introduced the Health Levy. President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe has also embarked on setting up a National Health Insurance which will help improve access to many more people, especially those in the informal sector.
The President emphasised the need to attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets and that Government was aware there is need to collaborate with development partners.
