Zimbabwe strengthens health workforce to advance universal health coverage

Harare-"The community will benefit from the improved knowledge I will share. Thanks to a recent training, our work will be more effective than before," says Audrey Musorowembudzi, a primary health care nurse at Hurungwe Rural Hospital in Mashonaland West Province. "I will pass on this information to my colleagues in a cascade effect, ensuring that everyone is informed and no woman is left behind."

Musorowembudzi recently participated in training on integrated care for women's cancers, one of many initiatives being implemented across Zimbabwe to strengthen the health workforce and improve access to quality health services.

Like many countries, Zimbabwe faces significant health workforce challenges. In 2022, the country had approximately 23 doctors, nurses and midwives per 10 000 population, less than half of the WHO-recommended threshold required to achieve universal health coverage (UHC). Workforce shortages, migration, limited training capacity and inequitable distribution of health workers have continued to place pressure on health services, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

To address these challenges, the Government of Zimbabwe, with support from the UHC Partnership and the World Health Organization (WHO), undertook a comprehensive Health Labour Market Analysis in 2022. The findings informed the development of the Health Workforce Strategy and the Health Workforce Investment Compact, a coordinated platform that brings together government institutions, development partners, training institutions and international organizations to strengthen health workforce planning, financing and management.

"The journey towards the Health Workforce Strategy and Investment Compact began in 2021. This is a pivotal step in translating our commitments into action and strengthening our health system," says Dr Douglas Mombeshora, Minister of Health and Child Care.

The Health Workforce Investment Compact outlines a US$1.63 billion investment framework for 2024-2026, with the Government of Zimbabwe committing to finance approximately 75% of the required resources. Since its launch in October 2024, the compact has provided a platform to coordinate investments and accelerate implementation of key workforce reforms.

Operationalization of the compact is already delivering tangible results. The government approved an additional 14 060 health worker posts to address critical gaps across the public health system. In 2025, more than 5000 positions were filled, including posts previously supported by development partners, while a further 8775 positions are planned for recruitment in 2026. Priority has been given to unemployed medical graduates and critical cadres such as nurses, midwives, pharmacists and laboratory technicians.

Additional investments are supporting workforce retention and professional development. Funding has been secured for a rural retention scheme to support health workers serving in remote areas, while resources have also been mobilized to strengthen village health worker support, leadership development and e-learning initiatives.

Progress and remaining challenges were reviewed during the Health Workforce Investment Compact Dialogue held on 28 May 2026. The dialogue brought together government representatives, development partners and other stakeholders to assess implementation progress, review financing commitments and identify priorities for accelerating investments in the health workforce. Participants reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration to ensure that workforce reforms translate into improved health services and health outcomes.

"WHO has supported the government throughout the development of the Health Workforce Strategy, from conducting a comprehensive health labour market analysis to facilitating high-level policy dialogue and investment planning," says Dr Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative to Zimbabwe. "These efforts are helping build a resilient, motivated and well-supported workforce capable of advancing universal health coverage."

These investments are already contributing to an increase in health workforce density towards the WHO-recommended benchmark of 45 per 10 000 population. For health workers like Musorowembudzi, they are also strengthening the skills, support and opportunities needed to deliver better care to communities across Zimbabwe.