Zimbabwe loses healthcare workers in a fight for survival

ZIMBABWE— Zimbabwe’s healthcare system is on the verge of a serious health disaster, with nurses, doctors, pharmacists, and other vital medical workers fleeing to other countries due to low pay and terrible working conditions.

Zimbabwean healthcare professionals have been grappling with economic hardships exacerbated by hyperinflation and political instability for years.

The recent decision by the Zimbabwean government to convert a US$300 COVID-19 allowance into a permanent part of nurses’ salaries, though a slight improvement, underscores the dire situation.

 Now, nurses take home an average of US$255 monthly after taxes, significantly lower than the US$540 they earned in 2018 and far below the estimated minimum wage of US$840 advocated by civil servants’ organizations.

Additionally, the collapse of the local currency has rendered salaries and pensions virtually worthless, driving many healthcare workers to seek better opportunities abroad.

By 2019, the UK’s National Health Service employed over 4,000 Zimbabwean healthcare professionals, reflecting a steady migration stream fueled by economic disparity and political turmoil.

Official statistics reveal that more than 4,000 health workers, including over 2,600 nurses, left Zimbabwe in 2021 and 2022 alone, further crippling an already fragile healthcare system.

The World Health Organization reported that since 2019, 4,600 Zimbabwean health workers have left the country, exacerbating the brain drain crisis.

This mass exodus has severely hampered Zimbabwe’s public health infrastructure, leading to shortages that jeopardize patient care in under-equipped hospitals.

Preventable diseases such as HIV, respiratory tract infections, and neonatal conditions now claim a significant number of lives due to reduced medical staff and resources.

 Additionally, non-communicable diseases are on the rise, contributing to almost 40% of deaths, highlighting the broader impact of healthcare worker shortages on public health outcomes.

The remaining healthcare professionals in Zimbabwe face overwhelming patient loads and daily demoralization in under-resourced facilities, further fueling the cycle of emigration.

 To stem the tide, the government has resorted to withholding verification letters necessary for healthcare workers to secure jobs abroad.

Despite these measures, many qualified professionals continue to leave, accepting lower-paying roles as care workers in the UK and elsewhere to sustain their families back home.

For all the latest healthcare industry news from Africa and the World, subscribe to our NEWSLETTER, and YouTube Channel, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook