Former Health Minister in the MMD Government, Brian Chituwo said if some funds saved from subsidy removal were targeted towards the health sector it would greatly improve the quality of health care in Zambia. Dr Chituwo said in an interview in Lusaka that provision of quality services in the health sector required colossal amounts of money.
“The health sector in this country needs a lot of cash because the people’s demand for access to quality health care is enormous.Therefore, if some of these funds saved from the subsidies are targeted towards the health sector, definitely, needs such as availability of qualified medical personnel, medicines, transport and equipment will be met,” he said.
Dr Chituwo said the increased funding to the sector would also help the Government meet the 15% health sector budgetary funds allocation as committed in the Abuja declaration on health expenditure. Under healthcare provision, Zambia needs to attain MDG number four to reduce child mortality, MDG number five to improve maternal health and MDG number six to Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases by 2015.
And veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga has cautioned government that the subsidies should be removed by Government on a gradual basis in order to serve the best interest of the nation. Mr Mwaanga said the removal of subsidies started years back during the former republican President Kenneth Kaunda’s UNIP regime.The former Minister said the MMD Government under late President Levy Mwanawasa also removed subsidies on some commodities like what UNIP used to do. He said during a live Sunday Interview programme on Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) on Sunday evening that MMD even wanted to remove more subsidies on certain commodities. “While I support removal of subsidies, I don’t support wholesome removal of subsidies at once,” he said.
Well said.
And only if these funds are not used for by-elections, re-payment of loans, buying of fuel and allowances for ministers…. PF we are watching you….2016 watch the space…
Hope they wil see sense in it.God help them
VJ is still around… Zambia has only had 3 Politicians namely FTJ kafupi Chiluba RIP, one MCS and the lagendary VJ Mwanga
Chituwo is dull.Subsidies were removed from Agriculture and they should be taken to health. No wonder MMd is going nowhere.
This i d i o t did nothing while he was health minister, just promoted his ka ma daughter who is a fake surgeon to get a ka ma fake post at MOH.