Understanding health worker incentives in post-crisis settings: policies to attract and retain public health workers in Zimbabwe: key informant interviews

Yotamu Chirwa, Wilson Mashange, Pamela Chandiwana, Shungu Munyati, Sophie Witter

ReBUILD Research Report No. 16.

Download the full report here.

The incentive environment for key human resources for health (HRH) cadres in Zimbabwe in the wake of the severe economic, social and political crisis is an area of immense importance for rebuilding the health system. This study’s main goal is to understand the post-crisis dynamics for HRH and ultimately how to reach and maintain incentives to support access to affordable, appropriate and equitable health services.

This report describes key informants’ perceptions of health worker incentive policies, their evolution in the post-crisis period, their implementation and effects. The study focused on the evolution of policies on retention and incentives across four key provider sectors and sub-sectors: the public sector, municipal and or rural councils, mission and private for profit. These are the backbone of Zimbabwe’s health system.