Zambia’s High commissioner to South Africa, Leslie Mbula, has called on South African Medical Institutions to invest in Zambia.
Mr Mbula said the South African health institutions should come to Zambia and set up Medical facilities to offer specialist treatment for Zambian patients who are currently being evacuated to South Africa.
Mr Mbula said that evacuating Patients to South Africa has been costly to the National Treasury.
He said as a government a lot of money could be saved if specialist medical facilities were available in the Country.
Mr Mbula made the call when two South African eye surgeons from Pretoria Eye Institute called on him at the Zambia High Commission Chancery in Pretoria today, ahead of their departure on a fact finding Mission to Zambia.
This is contained in a statement from from the High Commission and signed by second secretary for press at the embassy, Philip Chirwa.
Eye surgeons, Dr Petrus Odendaal and Dr Johann Grobbelaar, are part of a three man delegation expected in Zambia on 15th August, 2009, for discussions with the Ministries of Defence and Health, respectively.
The doctor’s visit to Zambia will be a culmination of discussions that the Pretoria Eye Institute has been having with the High Commissioner and the Defence Advisor at the mission, Brigadier General Manuel Chapewa, since mid July.
The Pretoria Eye Clinic is considering the possibility of Setting up an Eye surgical facility in Zambia.
Meanwhile the Commissioner has assured the doctors that, Zambia had a very liberal foreign exchange Policy which allowed foreign investors to remit their profits without any difficulties.
ZANIS
Ask them to supply that equipment to the goverment for our hospitals not them coming here because the will exploit us.
“Mr Mbula said the South African health institutions should come to Zambia and set up Medical facilities… and that evacuating patients to South Africa has been costly to the National Treasury”, what audacity! You are talking as if the SA health institutions have an obligation to Zeds health sector. I refuse to believe that Zed has no fine MD’s that can do a better job than SA specialists. If you could invest in medical equipment and treat our MD’s with the respect they deserve, we wouldn’t even be flying RB for old age arthritis which a warm compress, Ibuprofen and a little weight loss to take the pressure off the knees wouldn’t manage!
this is ridiculous!! why not urge the govt to invest in the health sector instead? Look at how much is being spent to treat politicians in SA, if only that cash cud be used for medical equipment right here in Zambia
this gov´t of the day is full of failures.Is the govt gonna be paying for zambians that will go for tyreatment if they happen to invest in Zambia?They can´t even run a single infrastructure that UNIP left behind but their bellies.
Awe bane…this govnt of RB is so d.u.l.l. Why cant they invest in medical equipment so that those blind poor people in cairo road can be treated by our medical doctors at low cost? Mbula what plans do you have for the poor Zambians who cant afford dolarised medical fees? Please kwateni amano people. Not this rubbish you are always giving us. INVEST IN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SO THAT EVERY ZAMBIAN CAN BENEFIT NOT ONLY YOU MMD-THIEVES.
Ba Mumbwe Mbula , you have overstayed in RSA. Now you have started daydreaming. Get the equipment and train our very own on that equipment so that you guys can have your knees done locally at UTH ! Period. Which investing ?
Iwe Mbuli, we are capable of doing that ourselves. Its only because of yourselfishness that we have no proper medical facilities. By the way you are way too far over retiring age man.
Its clear that one Leslie Mbabula is past his prime and not aware what is atking palce back home. Why encourage eye surgens to come from South Africa. We have a number of hospitals are qualified staff such as Lusaka Eye Clinic (SDA) and many others including UTH. What is needed is equipment. There is another specialised Hospital due for opening in Nipa area. Its the the Top ones like RB etc who are treking to RSA for treatment. I wonder what the doctors are feeling when they see RB going to seek treatment for a minor operation on his knee in RSA. It means our local professionals are nothing to the POWER BE are only meant to treat us the poor voters. Why is that man being kept in Pretoria you mean there are np ther capable pipo to represent us. The man is tired he admited on appointment
Vision Care on ChaChacha Rd, Lsk has all the facilities to treat any eye problem. Open heart operations are being conducted at UTH. All we need is GRZ commitment by ensuring that proper and specialised medcial equipment is made available. Insted of bringing in those mobile hospitals the same US$53m can be diverted to procure such equipment. As long as these men and women running our affairs are there with their greediness we will never move forward in our health care delivery system. By the way when these pipo go abroad for treat they still get their allowances. Can you imagine in addition to a salary. Where is fairness? That op for RB could have bin done at Lusaka Italian Hospital.
Gen Ron Shika now you have gone for the Catholics. Mind you Catholic is powerful institution of God> It has bin there and it will be there. The most powerful empires and nations have come and gone. Who do you think you are. The Church is not there to instal and remove Govts Instead to preach the word of God and condemn all types of injustices. As REV. You have traded your faith with pieces of kwacha. Your faith has eroded so fast. Spiritually you have biin diving and swimming in shallow waters, be careful not to jump ito pointless accusations. Dont forget that there is time for everything. A time to speak and a time to keep quiet. (Ecclesiates 3:1,7) At times even Jesus refused to answer questions (Mathews 26:62-63) Sensible pipo see tulabo coming and avoid it. U regret lata (Prov. 22:3)
When will Zambia invest in other countries? And do we hear a top ranked politician from south Africa soliciting medical treatment in Zambia? Independent remains questionable… Mobile hospital what is the way forward???? waste of money !!!
They have ran out of ideas……let them all go chill in chainama.
# 7 Yes Leslie Mbula has over stayed. He must the longest serving civil servent in Africa. From Clerk to Secretary to the Cabinet now to extend his luxurous life. High Commissioner to RSA. Heaven on Earth. Its like “ANIMAL FARM SITUATION” What muti does this man use others have bin recalled why not him . RB bring that gentleman back to start farming as well. Not talking of investment. Since he got appointment to RSA what siginificant investment has wowed from RSA. It appears his main occupation is to recieve the sick at airports and arranging hospital treatment.
that is right and they have come up with a good i deal keep it up.
i live and work in south africa .if iam sick today from whatever sickness,i can go to morning side.i will use my medical aid.morning side clinic will collect the cheque from my medical aid scheme.how does it work -my company pays 50% of my medical aid every month,i pay 50% every month.no matter the cost of my treatment my medical aid will pay.my point is unless empolyer in zed are made to pay towards employees medical costs to health provider ,the people will find investors (health wise)charges way beyond them.see it comes back to govt and not bringing investors .i cant belive lesley does not see this .and he live sin SA
Funny when apamwamba civil servants retire they are sent in foreign missionz, presumably to rest. Translates to the fact that its eazy going in thoze missionz? But the bling that go with the job….
I concur with you Mr Mbula that government could save a lot of money if specialist medical facilities were available in the Country.
But, does RB need to have his knee reviewed in RSA?
This call is dull. Medical institution do not come to a country because its costly for that country to evacuate pipo to another country. In today’s world? Private Hospitals are a business. A country that is serious first creates un “enabling environment”. This is a word that you politicians throw around carelessly. In the medical field this means enabling the Zambian public to take up medical insurance/aid. Zambians should be able to pay or contribute to an insurance company every month. When they are sick, such an Insurance company then pays the Doctor or hospital they are treated from. It’s a whole complex system that needs Government initiative and support. An act has to be put in place to facilitate. A culture of paying needs to be instilled in Zam,bians. Not free things. Mr…
I believe most you guys just type your comments based on the headline. Think about it. What did the man mean when he says facilities??? I am led to believe he meant Equipment!! So what are you waffling about? Take time to analyse statements before posting your hurtful sometimes thoughtless and preconceived comments. Be objective, call a spade a spade but be civil in your language.# 1 facilities and equipment may mean the same depending on where you studied – I guess Swahili hass gotten to you, # 13 Check statson investment from RSA since 2004 – you are in England – PPP is also an option r u helping, #7 what are you saying I see you’re in Brussels – can you get some investment from there? Public Private Partnerships instead of just talking – thats what Nigerians and Kenyans in diaspora do
what kind of crap is this?it is cheaper for govt to buy the equipment and use local doctors than foreign doctors buying the equipment. Foreign companies will need to recoup thier profit first then they will need market related salaries to operate in Zambia. All this cost will fall on the patient. Do you think our pipo will afford that. I am looking at just consultation fee. one must be prepared to pay at least K 500,000.00
How much can you destroy Zambia as a country? When will you stop destroying industries build over years ? If you do not have confidence in the zambian people MOVE and let leaders who believe in their people take your place. Zambia was never a begging nation …It has status …We have educated people who can have an eye clinic etc IF and IF South africa wants to help Zambia just give us the equipment like other donor countries do. PLEASE you can not sell your own country in the name of investment. Destroy structures build among the local people over years Chiluba did enough…do not tamper with health and education
This is total disregard of the countries people skills etc. Why did we get independent for in 1964? Is this what our forefather’s expected…… to destroy all they had worked hard to own. Do Zambians have to start getting their payroll from South Africa because one has no confidence in their own people’s skills. Kaunda thankyou for building up Zambian industries. Please do not destroy the health industry that at least Zambians are in control of…. Get the right management if they are failing to come up with the solutions. Zambian can handle their healthcare industry IF and IF South Africa want to help. They should just donate and train the Zambian people
On “Meanwhile the Commissioner has assured the doctors that, Zambia had a very liberal foreign exchange Policy which allowed foreign investors to remit their profits without any difficulties“, I am very sad that this is the policy that makes the foreign investors make money in Zambia and then send their profits to their countries without doing some social work for the Zambian people.
I hope the MMD GRZ will change this status quo as soon as possible so that foreign investor will assume some level of social responsibility to Zambians.
As for “Mr Mbula said that evacuating Patients to South Africa has been costly to the National Treasury“, how much has been spent so far and is that GRZ wasted money equivalent to buying the necessary equipment to uplift our hospitals?
Another of those madalas that have been stationed by there posts since i can remember as a young ambitous zambian it breaks my heart even md,s in companies should not stay 4 10 year our presidents have 2 5 year terms its sad to have people like Ali simwinga heading a manicipality for 20 years wake up zambians we are too nice and do not rise up to correct the ills that owr politicans who are not only out of touch but greedy and overly obsesed with power .you have failed us shame on you!
what crazy nonsense is that.I you could offer specialist training to us the current physicians and buy equipment we could do the job!instead you make us sit around inefective coz you’d rather buy a herse than a surgical unit! Nonsense
Whatever happened to the ZCCM hospitals, those hospitals were of international Standard. Privatization indeed ,what has the country gained, nothing only losses. Jesus restore what the locusts and cankerworms have eaten. Joel 2:25
Bizarre thoughts of a tired old goat.. The zambian govt has the duty to provide health care for all the masses, poor, rich, young and old goats like him. Privatising health care in a third world country is nonsense. Zambia has the infra structure and the personnel, sort out your politics and invest in what you have. The same Zambia doctors and nurses are working in the South African hospitals where you rush after a simple cough. How many people will pay ??
#23. Maestro Hakucincha > Investors are not there to develop Zambia’s society. As long as parastal companies that are source of revenue to gvt go to foreigners, profits made will continue flowing to their home country. This is one of the reasons why the Nigerians in the delta region wage a war against oil campanies. Poor villagers around the oil fields are wrangling in poverty while muzungu is drowing oil from their land without thinking of developing the land where oil is extracted. It is up to us Zambians to soldier out. Look at game reserves $500 paid in south Africa to view animals in Zambia. What do Zambians benefit from this tourism? Only gate ticket. aaah.. mukwesu!!!
28 Kanjimaano greetings. On your “Maestro Hakucincha > Investors are not there to develop Zambia’s society. As long as parastal companies that are source of revenue to gvt go to foreigners, profits made will continue flowing to their home country… It is up to us Zambians to soldier out. Look at game reserves $500 paid in south Africa to view animals in Zambia. What do Zambians benefit from this tourism? Only gate ticket. aaah.. mukwesu!!!” This is why I am appealing to the mis-ruling MMD GRZ in my posting 23 above to change the current very terrible status quo following the South African Embassy Zambian High Commisioner.
I just hope two years will be enough for the UPND-PF PACT to convince villagers that 2011 needs to bring real change of GRZ.
Enjoy.
_
Matt…
Poor people in South Africa DO NOT have access to proper medical facilities. Only those with medical aid can afford good services. If these companies were to come here, how would they earn money in the current health framework?
I think it is a serious flaw in our leaders thinking when they assume that the private sector can manage key areas of our economy and other services.
In the case of the mining sector we saw retrenchments when copper prices were bad. Private investors have no other interest apart from making a buck. In Botswana where the government has interest in the mines, the retrenchments were limited.
Coming back to health we have the capability and resources to provide basic medical facilities if we put our heads together. There is no political will to improve services.
# 30. Marx #29. Maestro Hakucincha >> Development of any nation lays in the hands of its citizens. This multi party system is misunderstood in Zam… and bleeds TO corruption.. If only fine brains could be chosen to run different ministries regardless of their political affirdality.. Zam would be flying high like an eagle. The likes of Nawakwi, HH, could be intergrated in MMD to form a strong gvt… In Zam any appointment of someone from a different political party is viewed as an enemy brought in. Where is team spirit for common goal??? DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTRY?? TOO MUCH IN POLITICAL FIGHTING WHICH DOES NOT BENEFIT ALL ZAMBIANS.
We need a knee clinic
My humble advice to all the Zambians is to tell all your leaders to move to South Africa with all their families because there are good hospitals good houses and good food in South Africa to spare the citizen with burden of airfares to South Africa
Those are great ideas; I use two or three already ?C esp. the one about encouragement ?C but I will try a couple of the others.
Not like I need anymore ideas for posts (still have too many drafts that are not yet completed), but this is nonetheless and awesome post and a great resource for any blogger.I wish I would have thought of this idea??.Great job.Phil