Public Management

Medical treatment abroad costs the Zimbabwean economy an average of $400 million a year (government)

Medical treatment abroad costs the Zimbabwean economy an average of $400 million a year (government)
Wednesday, 14 August 2019 16:23

Travels to receive medical care beyond borders costs the Zimbabwean economy an average of $400 million per year, the finance minister (pictured) said.
According to him, this scenario is due to his country's multi-currency system, but also to the fact that many Zimbabwean Doctors and health professionals seek opportunity beyond our borders. It is also due to the high cost of medicines in the southern African country, linked to its economic crisis.
The official explained that local doctors and health professionals are paid fees to send patients to India, for instance, instead of sending them to local facilities.
To counter the situation, the government has initiated a process to stabilize its economy. Last June, the authorities announced that the RTGS, an alternative currency, would now be the only legal tender in the country, ahead of the reintroduction of the Zimbabwean dollar by the end of the year. The government also announced that it had reached an agreement with the Swiss Novartis group to facilitate access to pharmaceuticals for Zimbabweans at a lower cost.
Overall, medical care abroad has cost Zimbabwe $4 billion over the past decade.
Moutiou Adjibi Nourou

Additional Info

  • communiques: Non
  • couleur: N/A
On the same topic
Absa Kenya hires M-PESA’s Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, signalling a shift from branch banking to a telecom-style digital platform mindset. The move shows that...
FNB now lets stokvels open accounts fully online, removing the need for three members to visit a branch together. SA’s 800,000 stokvels manage about...
Mamadou Koné won 101 of 201 votes at FANAF’s 50th congress He succeeds César Ekomie-Afene for a three-year term Koné aims to boost insurance...
SETRAG seeks IFC loan for €704 million rail upgrade Phase III to replace 561 km rails by 2030 IFC flags environmental, social risks...
Most Read
01

Deposits grow 2.7%, supporting lending recovery Average loan sizes small, credit risk persists ...

Togo Microfinance: Deposits and Loans Rise Simultaneously in Q3 2025
02

Oil majors expand offshore exploration from Senegal to Angola Gulf of Guinea accounts for about 1...

Gulf of Guinea regains appeal as a key exploration hub for oil majors
03

Rwanda, partners break ground on $2 billion Kigali Innovation City Smart city targets ...

Rwanda Mobilises Global, Local Finance for $2Bln Innovation City Targeting Africa’s Digital Economy
04

MTN is considering buying back telecom towers it sold years ago, signalling that control of infras...

MTN’s Talks to Buyout IHS: A Strategic Reversal That Could Reshape African Telecoms
05

The government is asking SOTEL and Airtel to amend a 2025 agreement The N’Djamena–Mberé route...

Chad Reopens Talks with Telecom Operators Over Strategic Fiber Link
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.