Public hospitals and clinics across Zimbabwe have received Starlink satellite internet equipment under a government programme aimed at improving digital connectivity, but many health institutions are reportedly unable to use the service because they cannot afford the monthly subscription fees.
The matter was raised in the National Assembly by Kariba legislator Shine Gwangwaba during oral questions without notice. He said several hospitals and clinics have already been equipped with Starlink kits, but the lack of funding for recurring subscription costs has left the equipment idle.
“Hospitals have been given Starlink kits, but they cannot afford to subscribe; they are just keeping them,” said Gwangwaba.
He asked the government what measures were being put in place to ensure health facilities can meet the ongoing costs required to activate the service.
Responding earlier in the parliamentary session, Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the government has already installed solar power systems and Starlink internet kits at more than 400 clinics nationwide as part of efforts to improve digital access in the health sector. The programme is expected to expand to over 700 clinics.
Dr Mombeshora acknowledged that subscription costs remain a major obstacle but said the government is engaging Starlink representatives to negotiate more affordable pricing.
“Indeed, we have received those challenges and we are engaging the agents to lower the subscriptions so that we can pay for all those Starlink kits that we will install,” he told Parliament.
The connectivity initiative is intended to improve internet access, particularly in rural and remote health facilities, enabling better communication, digital health services and access to medical information.
During the debate, Chinhoyi legislator Leslie Mhangwa proposed that the Universal Services Fund (USF) be used to finance Starlink subscription fees for hospitals and clinics. The fund, supported through a telecommunications levy, is already used to improve connectivity in schools, libraries, digital centres and underserved communities.
Mhangwa said extending the programme to public health institutions would allow facilities that already have Starlink equipment to fully benefit from the technology.
Responding to the proposal, Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Tatenda Mavetera said the Universal Services Fund currently pays for internet subscriptions at digital centres and schools for a limited period of one year.
“We also need to do the same for hospitals, which I think is worth considering,” Mavetera told Members of Parliament.
She added that her ministry would engage the Ministry of Health and Child Care to assess the possibility of extending Universal Services Fund support to public health institutions, noting that hospitals are not currently covered under the programme.
If approved, the proposal could provide a long-term funding solution for internet subscriptions at public health facilities, ensuring that the Starlink equipment already installed is fully utilised to improve healthcare delivery.
No timeframe was given for the completion of consultations between the two ministries or for a final decision on financing the subscription fees.
The discussion highlights the importance of pairing digital infrastructure investments with sustainable operational funding to ensure technology initiatives deliver their intended benefits across Zimbabwe’s healthcare system.
