Innovation is becoming an increasingly important tool in addressing Zimbabwe’s healthcare challenges, from rising costs and limited access to fragmented systems and delayed service delivery. Seeking to unlock home-grown solutions, Cimas Health Group has launched the third edition of its Healthathon competition, positioning local innovators and technology teams at the centre of efforts to improve healthcare delivery across the country.
The national innovation challenge will bring together startups, university technology teams and independent innovators to develop digital solutions capable of tackling some of Zimbabwe’s most pressing healthcare problems. Beyond competing for prize money, participants will have an opportunity to develop technologies that could ultimately be piloted within the healthcare sector, creating a pathway from innovation to implementation.
The competition offers a total prize pool of US$7,000, with the winning team set to receive US$3,500. The second-placed team will walk away with US$2,000 while the third-placed team will receive US$1,500.
Registration for Healthathon 3.0 opens on June 22 and closes on July 12 under the theme, “Reimagining Healthcare Through Disruptive Innovation.” The programme will conclude with a live Demo Day on August 28 where shortlisted finalists will present their solutions before a panel of judges drawn from Cimas Health Group executives, innovation experts and industry leaders.
Speaking at the launch in Harare, Cimas Health Group Chief Executive Officer Vuli Ndlovu said the initiative reflects the organisation’s commitment to supporting innovation that addresses real challenges within the healthcare sector.
“As the healthcare industry undergoes rapid technological transformation, innovation remains a critical pillar in shaping the future of healthcare. Through the Healthathon challenge, we are demonstrating our commitment to addressing some of the complex and evolving challenges facing our country’s healthcare sector,” he said.
Encouraging Solutions to Healthcare Challenges
According to Ndlovu, Zimbabwe’s healthcare system continues to face a range of challenges including affordability constraints, limited access to services, fragmented data systems, delayed service delivery, low uptake of preventive healthcare and rising healthcare costs.
Healthathon 3.0 has been designed to encourage innovators to develop practical solutions that can improve healthcare access, affordability, prevention, wellness, operational efficiency and patient experience.
In a departure from previous editions, this year’s competition will not be divided into specific categories. Participants will instead be free to identify any healthcare challenge they believe requires attention and propose solutions that demonstrate both relevance and viability.
Ndlovu said the decision was made to encourage broader thinking and unlock more diverse ideas from Zimbabwe’s innovation community.
“There will be no predefined categories, giving participants the freedom to reimagine healthcare from any perspective or angle. We want to see imagination, originality, technical rigour and practical solutions capable of driving meaningful change within Zimbabwe’s healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
The open structure is expected to encourage innovators to focus on the challenges they understand best, potentially generating a wider range of solutions that address different aspects of healthcare delivery.
Building a Pipeline for Healthcare Innovation
Chief Information Officer Foster Akaketwa said participation is open to Zimbabwean innovation hubs, startups, university technology teams and independent product teams committed to improving healthcare through technology.
Each team must comprise between three and five members, with applicants encouraged to assemble groups with diverse skills and expertise.
Applications will be submitted through an online platform before a selection process narrows the field to the top 20 teams. From there, six finalists will be chosen to compete for the top prizes during the grand finale.
“Teams are allowed to choose their own problem area, but must show why the problem is material, who it affects, and why their solution is viable,” said Akaketwa.
He added that shortlisted teams will undergo an orientation programme covering competition rules, judging criteria, prototype development requirements, intellectual property considerations, data protection requirements and presentation guidelines.
To ensure meaningful impact, proposed solutions must directly address challenges within Zimbabwe’s healthcare ecosystem and demonstrate practical value for local healthcare needs. Participants will also be expected to bring original ideas to the competition rather than replicate existing platforms without significant adaptation or improvement.
While the prize money provides an incentive, Cimas believes the bigger opportunity lies in the possibility of turning promising ideas into real-world healthcare solutions. Participants will have the chance to pilot their innovations within the organisation, giving successful projects exposure to a real healthcare environment.
For Ndlovu, the long-term vision extends far beyond the annual competition.
“The Cimas Healthathon has now grown into more than just an event. It has become a national movement for digital health innovation. Our vision is to build a structured innovation funnel that produces solutions for potential adoption, strategic partnership and further incubation within the healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
As digital transformation continues to reshape industries across Zimbabwe, initiatives such as Healthathon 3.0 are creating opportunities for local innovators to play a more active role in solving national challenges. By connecting innovators with the healthcare sector, the programme has the potential to generate practical solutions that improve healthcare delivery while strengthening Zimbabwe’s growing innovation ecosystem.
