Healthcare funders have urged Parliament to block proposed regulations that would stop medical aid societies from owning, managing or operating healthcare facilities.
They warn the move could destabilise the health sector, hit investor confidence and spark constitutional disputes.
In a letter dated 19 June 2026 to Eddison Zvobgo Jr, chair of Parliament’s Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, the Association of Healthcare Funders of Zimbabwe (AHFOZ) called on MPs to reject the proposals.
AHFOZ said the regulations threaten healthcare investment and breach constitutional property rights.
It warned that, if passed, the measures would disrupt integrated care models, reduce access to quality services, and create legal and economic uncertainty.
The industry body argues the regulations amount to an unlawful restructure of the health sector through subsidiary legislation instead of an Act of Parliament.
“On behalf of our members and the medical aid industry at large, we respectfully seek the intervention and scrutiny of your committee in relation to the proposed amendment,” AHFOZ chief executive Shylet Sanyanga.
“The proposed amendment seeks to prohibit medical aid societies from owning, managing or operating healthcare services or facilities. It further seeks to compel the affected societies to submit divestiture plans in respect of existing healthcare investments.”
AHFOZ said it had already made submissions to Parliament’s Health Committee on how the proposed ban would harm healthcare access, affordability and protections for medical aid members.
Its latest submission focuses on legality. Sanyanga said the Minister can make regulations to implement the Medical Services Act, but cannot impose a blanket ban on vertical integration or force institutions to sell lawfully acquired assets.
The Medical Services Act supports expanding healthcare services and does not stop medical aid societies from investing in infrastructure, AHFOZ said.
The association argues that using regulations, rather than primary legislation, to make such a major policy change would bypass Parliament on an issue affecting investment, property rights and healthcare delivery.
Compulsory divestiture would breach constitutional property rights and disrupt established healthcare networks, it said.
Forcing medical aid societies to sell hospitals and other assets would deter future investment, create uncertainty for staff and patients, weaken integrated care, and raise costs for members, AHFOZ warned.
It also rejected the competition rationale, saying competition matters sit with the Competition and Tariff Commission under the Competition Act. Concerns about vertical integration should be dealt with case by case under competition law, not through a blanket ban, Sanyanga said.
AHFOZ warned the regulations could force sales of key healthcare assets, disrupt provider networks, and increase reliance on third-party providers with limited capacity.
It urged Parliament to put the reforms through a full legislative process with stakeholder consultation and evidence-based impact assessments on competition, access and affordability.
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