Cimas launches healthathon 3.0 to spur local healthcare innovation

CLOUDINE MATOLA
Cimas Health Group has launched the third edition of its Healthathon innovation challenge, a platform aimed at harnessing local technological solutions to address Zimbabwe’s pressing healthcare challenges and improve health outcomes across communities.
Speaking at the launch of Healthathon 3.0 in Harare on Wednesday, Cimas Health Group chief executive officer, Vuli Ndlovu, said the initiative seeks to transform healthcare challenges into opportunities for innovation, while positioning digital health investment as a catalyst for meaningful change.
Ndlovu said Zimbabwe’s healthcare sector continues to grapple with a range of structural challenges, including limited access to healthcare services, affordability concerns, fragmented systems, delayed service delivery, poor care coordination and rising healthcare costs.
“These are real problems that we face every day in our communities and families. Health is deeply personal and emotive. However, we also believe these challenges present opportunities — opportunities to rethink healthcare delivery, innovate boldly and create practical solutions that improve lives,” Ndlovu said.
“That is why we continue to invest in digital health innovation as part of our broader mission to inspire healthier communities. We believe Healthathon 3.0 can be a vehicle for change, and that is why we are launching it today.”
He said technological innovation is increasingly reshaping healthcare systems globally, transforming how patients access care, how health systems operate and how healthcare data is utilised.
“We are living in an era where healthcare is being transformed by technology. Around the world, innovation is changing how people access care, how systems function and how patients experience healthcare. Zimbabwe cannot afford to be left behind, not because we want to follow a global trend, but because we have real healthcare challenges that require urgent solutions,” he said.
Ndlovu noted that affordability remains one of the sector’s biggest concerns, with medical aid providers continually battling shortfalls and co-payments.
“Access is not where we would like it to be. Affordability remains a persistent concern. As a medical aid provider, we are constantly dealing with issues around shortfalls and co-payments. We also face fragmented systems, delayed service delivery and poor coordination of care, where patients often have to move from one point to another to receive treatment.
“At the same time, healthcare costs continue to rise. There is now a growing global focus on preventive healthcare, but locally, progress remains limited. We need a more deliberate and coordinated approach towards preventive health management. These are not abstract challenges — they are real issues affecting people’s lives every day.”
The 2026 edition of Healthathon has been expanded into a national competition, with organisers offering a total prize pool of US$7,000 to winning teams.
The overall winner will receive US$3,500, while the first and second runners-up will take home US$2,000 and US$1,500, respectively.
However, Ndlovu emphasised that the financial rewards represent only a small part of the opportunity available to participants.
“The real opportunity goes far beyond the prize money. Participants will gain visibility, access to mentorship, partnership opportunities and, most importantly, the chance to pilot their innovations with Cimas.
“We want to help innovators move their ideas from concept to tangible impact. Before solutions can transform lives, they must first be tested and validated. This platform exists to help prove those concepts and bring promising innovations to life.”
He said the long-term vision is to establish a sustainable pipeline of healthcare innovations capable of strengthening Zimbabwe’s healthcare delivery system.
“Our goal is not simply to host an event. We want to create a pipeline of pilot-ready innovations that can strengthen healthcare delivery in Zimbabwe. We want the Healthathon to evolve into a movement — a platform where ideas are nurtured, partnerships are forged and practical solutions are developed.
“To the innovators, startups, university students, dreamers and disruptors, this is your moment. We are inviting you to help shape the future of healthcare in Zimbabwe.”
The competition will run from June 22 to July 12, 2026, and is open to innovators from across the country.
Cimas chief information officer, Foster Akatekwa, said participating teams must comprise a minimum of three and a maximum of five members.
He encouraged entrants to form multidisciplinary teams to maximise creativity and problem-solving capacity.
“To foster collaboration and innovation, we encourage teams to bring together individuals with diverse skills and expertise. The most impactful solutions often emerge when different disciplines and perspectives work together,” Akatekwa said.