Zimbabwe’s launch of new cancer treatment guidelines and an updated essential medicines list comes as the country battles a high cancer mortality burden, with 17,725 new cases and 11,739 deaths recorded annually, according to the World Health Organisation’s Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 estimates.

Zimbabwe records an overall cancer incidence rate of 208.0 per 100,000 people and a mortality rate of 144.0 per 100,000, with women carrying a particularly heavy burden.

Cervical cancer remains the leading cancer among women, accounting for about 3,520 new cases annually, representing 19.9% of all cancers, followed by breast cancer with 1,807 cases, or 10.2%.

Among men, prostate cancer is the most common, with 1,707 cases, representing 9.6% of all cancers.

Despite Zimbabwe having a lower overall cancer incidence than many high-income countries, the country has one of the highest cancer mortality-to-incidence ratios in the world.

Women are particularly affected, with a cancer mortality rate of 149.0 deaths per 100,000 in 2022, the highest globally.

The National Cancer Registry and local experts have noted that most patients present at advanced stages because of limited screening, long diagnostic delays and centralised services.

Zimbabwe has only two functional public cancer treatment centres and fewer than 15 clinical oncologists serving the entire country.

The Minister of Health and Child Care, Douglas Mombeshora, yesterday launched the 9th Edition of the Essential Drugs List for Zimbabwe alongside the Zimbabwe National Adult Oncology Treatment Guidelines.

Mombeshora said the documents represented a major national commitment to ensuring that every Zimbabwean, regardless of their location or economic background, could access safe, effective and affordable medicines through evidence-based clinical care.

He said the Essential Drugs List was aligned with the World Health Organisation’s Essential Medicines Concept.

He said every drug included on the list underwent a rigorous evaluation process to ensure that it met strict standards for safety, efficacy, quality, cost-effectiveness and local manufacturing potential.

The focus on medicines comes as Zimbabwe continues efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical production and reduce dependence on imported medicines.

Government set a target to increase local production of essential medicines from about 36% to 60% by the end of 2025, up from 12% in 2020, as Zimbabwe seeks to reduce dependence on imports exceeding US$200 million annually.

Capacity utilisation in the local pharmaceutical industry has reportedly increased from 12% in 2020 to 51% in 2024, while the number of registered local manufacturers has grown from nine to 14.

However, foreign currency shortages and supply-chain constraints continue to affect the pharmaceutical sector.

The availability of essential medicines in public health facilities reportedly increased from around 22% in 2023 to about 50% in 2024, although stock-outs and uneven distribution continue to affect access, particularly in rural areas.

For cancer patients, the new oncology guidelines are expected to provide a framework focused on prevention, early detection and equitable access to treatment.

Mombeshora said the Adult Oncology Treatment Guidelines focused on prevention, early detection and equitable access.

He said primary healthcare would serve as the crucial frontline in identifying patients early and guiding them swiftly to specialised oncology care.

The guidelines come as Zimbabwe seeks to address the delays that result in patients presenting with cancer at advanced stages.

Mombeshora said the ministry remained committed to strengthening the pharmaceutical supply chain and expanding cancer care services.

He thanked the NMTPAC, the Department of Pharmacy Services, oncology experts and all partners for their contribution towards the development of the documents.

He said their contribution was important in transforming Zimbabwe’s healthcare landscape.

The new measures form part of broader efforts aligned with the National Cancer Control Plan 2025–2030, which aims to reduce premature cancer mortality by 30% by 2030 and achieve the 90–70–90 cervical cancer elimination targets.

With thousands of Zimbabweans dying from cancer every year, the new guidelines and Essential Drugs List now face the bigger test of translating policy into earlier diagnosis, available medicines and access to cancer treatment across the country.