Table 1.

Changes in user fee policy during the 1990s, Zimbabwe

Early 1991	Enforcement of user fee collection at all health facilities at the start of ESAP
November 1992	User fee exemption level raised from ZWD 150 to ZWD 400
January 1993	Temporary abolition of fees at rural health centres because of the drought
June 1993	Reinstitution of user fees at rural health centres
January 1994	Substantial increase in user fees at all health institutions
March 1995	Abolition of user fees at rural health centres and rural hospitals
October 1996	Increase in user fees at all referral hospitals: services at rural hospitals and health centres remain free of charge
January 1997	Start of the Health Services fund; retention of user fee revenues at the district and facility level: reinstitution of user fees at (some) rural mission hospitals
1998	No more health grants for the municipalities; higher than average increase in user fees
November 1999	Substantial increase in user fees at government health institutions

Source: Bijlmakers, 2003.