Zimbabwe Health Insurance

Feeling comfortable in the knowledge that if something was to happen to a family member their medical costs will be taken care of, is important to us all. Our expert consultants can advise on the most suitable level of coverage for families, individuals, groups, travelers, and teachers expatriate health insurance.

Expatriate Health Insurance Zimbabwe

Pacific Prime is an expatriate insurance broker specialising in providing overseas medical insurance for Zimbabwe nationals living, working or holidaying abroad. If you are a non Zimbabwe national and moving to Zimbabwe we can also provide plans that meet your specific requirements.

Professional Service you can trust

Pacific Prime Insurance will be with you for the duration of your policy. We offer additional customer services that include claims advice, emergency contact numbers and medical advice lines. We also maintain a comprehensive list of Zimbabwe hospitals/doctors. Most of our clients are expatriates so we maintain a list of Embassies in Zimbabwe.

As a leading broker of medical insurance in Zimbabwe we keep up on the latest insurance trends and Zimbabwe Insurance News.

We can offer expatriates in Zimbabwe dedicated international health insurance plans that will provide comprehensive coverage in the East and around the world. Plans that we can offer will usually have a number of benefits that a policyholder is able to tailor to suit their specific requirements. With coverage options including out-patient, dental, maternity, and emergency evacuation, you will be assured of receiving the highest levels of quality treatment anywhere in the world.

Zimbabwe Medical Insurance

The Republic of Zimbabwe is a country located in Southern Africa. It has a total land area of 386,670 square kilometers. Zimbabwe is bounded by Zambia on the North and Northwest, by Botswana on the Southwest, by Mozambique on the East and by South Africa on the South. The capital of Zimbabwe, Harare (formerly Salisbury), is a stunning city with a strong appreciation of the city's cultural and historic heritage. Zimbabwe gained its independence in 1980, after a decade of civil war.

The climate in Zimbabwe is generally very warm. Summer, which is also the rainy season, lasts from November to March; temperature ranges from 25°C to 30°C. While winter is the cool and dry season, which is between May to August, temperature ranges from 13°C to 23°C.

Zimbabwe offers an amazing variety of natural beauty and astonishing scenery. The country has a lot to offer to active adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts and those who appreciate nature, including the famous Victoria Falls (one of the natural wonders of the world), the giant marble-like rocks of the Motopo Hills, the grassy mountains of the Eastern Highlands and the national parks with wildlife and ancient ruins. Zimbabwe is abundant in farmland, tobacco, sugarcane, cotton, and corn are grown there. The country is also rich in mineral resources, including gold, copper, coal, chrome, nickel, and asbestos.

The healthcare system of Zimbabwe was once a model for Southern Africa. However, in 2008 there was a serious cholera epidemic in the country, spread by water contaminated with human faeces, which has killed more than 4,000 people across Zimbabwe. The cholera outbreak plus an economic meltdown has pushed the country’s healthcare system to near collapse. Although the healthcare system in the Zimbabwe has faced difficulties in recent years, the Government had made effort in improving the healthcare system.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for the healthcare services in Zimbabwe and it provides 50% of the total healthcare expenditure in the public healthcare sector.  Local authorities, mission churches, industrial organisations and private services fund the remaining 50% of healthcare spending. The public healthcare sector in Zimbabwe is the primary healthcare services provider for the country.

The public healthcare delivery services in Zimbabwe are decentralised and healthcare is provided at four levels namely primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary. Healthcare programs in the country focuses mainly on Primary Healthcare services (PHC) which includes the provision of basic and essential preventive and curative care, maternal and child health services, health education, nutrition education, communicable diseases control and immunization, water and sanitation, and the nation’s essential drugs program. Every healthcare facility in Zimbabwe offers a full range of curative and preventive services.

In general, the infrastructure of the public healthcare sector in Zimbabwe is weak and unreliable. Medical facilities are limited and there is a lack of trained medical staff and shortage of necessary medicines. According to the World Health Organization’s rankings of the world's health systems, Zimbabwe ranked 155 out of 190 countries. There have been instances where foreigners and expatriates who were suffering from critical illnesses or injuries being rejected from hospitals due to shortages of hospital beds and medical supplies. In the case of critical illnesses or accidents, evacuation to South Africa for medical treatments maybe required. It is often that doctors, hospitals and air ambulance medical evacuation services require immediate cash payment before receiving health services. As such, it is recommended that all expatriates and travelers within Zimbabwe purchase some form of comprehensive international medical insurance policy which provides an emergency evacuation benefit.

Hospitals in the rural areas are only equipped with basic equipment and supplies, and they are unable to provide medical services for serious accidents or illnesses. Moreover, in case of an emergency, patients may have to make their own transportation to nearby medical facilities. About two-thirds of the population in Zimbabwe lives in rural areas, the Government has made an effort to increase access to healthcare services in the rural areas; they have converted some farmhouses into rural healthcare centres.

Private healthcare is also available in Zimbabwe, however, treatments in private clinics are normally expensive and Zimbabwean medical facilities often demand payment up-front before providing treatments to patients, and this often involves a large sum of money. Moreover, the standards of nursing care in private hospitals are inconsistent. It is highly recommended that foreigners to take out a comprehensive travel insurance or international medical insurance plan which will cover you for medical transportation or evacuation when travelling to Zimbabwe. If you are on medication, it is advisable to bring adequate supply of medication to cover the duration of your stay in Zimbabwe, as you may not be able to obtain the appropriate drug prescribed by your doctor at the pharmacies in Zimbabwe.

Pacific Prime is a one-stop health insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to Zimbabwe. We offer a wide range of policies to meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations, and many others. We offer a large variety of healthcare plans as well as travellers insurance plans. Contact our professional advisers today to enjoy full insurance protection such as an Expat Health Insurance Plan for yourself and your family.