UNICEF 2026 Health Budget Brief
This budget brief assesses the extent to which the 2026 National Budget responds to Zimbabwe’s health financing needs, with a particular focus on children and women.
Highlights
This budget brief assesses the extent to which the 2026 National Budget responds to Zimbabwe’s health financing needs, with a particular focus on children and women. It analyses the size, composition, and trends of the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) budget, including how public resources are allocated and utilised to deliver primary health care, public health programmes, and essential child health interventions. The brief examines recurrent and capital spending, alignment with national health priorities, and the distribution of resources across programmes and provinces. It also assesses the adequacy, equity, efficiency, and effectiveness of public health financing, drawing on findings from previous health budget briefs. The analysis is framed against Zimbabwe’s commitments under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), Universal Health Coverage (UHC), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Abuja Declaration. It is prepared in the context of constrained fiscal space, declining external financing, and growing demand for public resources, all of which affect the Government’s capacity to sustainably finance essential health services for children and vulnerable populations. The brief therefore provides evidence-based policy recommendations to strengthen health budget credibility, improve spending effectiveness, and advance equitable access to essential healt
