How telehealth is helping close the healthcare gap in rural Zimbabwe

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that telehealth centres are expanding access to medical care in rural Zimbabwe, where many patients otherwise face long and costly trips to see a doctor. In Nyazura, eastern Zimbabwe, the outlet profiled Anymore Kadzunge, a 38-year-old farmer who walked 14km from Chimbondi after months of chest pain and dizziness. At the centre, a nurse checked her blood pressure and linked her to a doctor by video; she was diagnosed with hypertension and given medication.

The programme was launched in 2024 by ZimSmart Villages in partnership with state-owned telecoms firm NetOne and postal service Zimpost. It uses existing post office sites as digital health access points, with nurses taking vital signs and arranging online consultations. Al Jazeera reported that the Nyazura site relies on Starlink internet and backup battery power to cope with connectivity and electricity challenges.

The model is aimed at reducing barriers in a health system strained by shortages of staff, medicines and equipment. Al Jazeera cited WHO data showing Zimbabwe had 1.7 doctors per 10,000 people in 2022, below the African average of 2.6. ZimSmart Villages said that by 2026 it had opened 28 centres in seven provinces and handled more than 28,000 virtual consultations, including about 25,000 diagnostic tests. Consultations reportedly cost $2 to $10, less than many private clinics.

The centres are helping identify conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and sexually transmitted infections, while referring serious or specialist cases to hospitals. However, Al Jazeera notes that telehealth has limits, including gaps in specialist services and the need to build trust among patients unfamiliar with virtual care.