Health and Child Care Minister Douglas Mombeshora has warned of the growing threat of cartels and corruption in Zimbabwe’s health sector, saying there should be no “sacred cows” when credible allegations of wrongdoing emerge.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s 2026 Review and Strategic Planning Meeting in Bulawayo on Monday, Mombeshora said the manipulation of procurement, referrals, supplies, patients and other opportunities for private benefit was unacceptable.
The health sector, he said, could not afford practices that put personal interests ahead of patients and the public good.
“Public facilities are public assets. Public equipment is public equipment. Public medicines are public resources,” Mombeshora said.
“And a patient who comes to a public health institution must never be treated as an opportunity for personal enrichment.”
Mombeshora warned that where procurement, referrals, supplies, patients, services or opportunities are manipulated for private benefit, decisive action must be taken.
He said the country could not build a world-class health system while tolerating indiscipline, citing reports of staff failing to report for duty, inappropriate conduct towards patients, diversion of patients, unauthorised private work and misuse of public infrastructure and equipment for private gain.
However, Mombeshora acknowledged that health professionals may undertake legitimate private practice where it is permitted, properly authorised and regulated.
He stressed that there must be a clear separation between public service and private interests.
More: Health Times
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