ONE of India’s leading super specialist hospitals has expressed interest to set up a branch in Zambia and tailor-make exchange programmes in different medical specialties for doctors and paramedics under its capacity-building programme.
Apollo Hospitals have described Zambia as an ideal destination being earmarked for the health institution’s presence in cost-effective specialised health care.
Paying a courtesy call on Zambia High Commissioner to India Darius Bubala at the Zambia High Commission in New Delhi yesterday, Apollo Hospitals deputy general manager for marketing Abhijit Majumder, noted that Zambia and India ejoyed cordial relations which provides a platform for collaboration in the health care industry.
According to a Press release from First Secretary for Press at Zambia High Commission in India, Bwalya Nondo, Ambassador Bubala observed that Apollo had won international credibility for the medical excellence that continue to be a motivating factor for India being preferred as a destination for medical tourism.
He thanked Apollo for giving self-sponsored Zambian patients who came on limited budgets, considerable discounts on their treatment costs.
Mr Bubala said it was the desire of Zambia to see Apollo establish a branch in Zambia as this would enable more people access specialised treatment which, at the moment, may not be readily available in Zambia because of limited equipment and expertise.
The Zambian envoy said President Rupiah Banda’s administration had facilitated construction of health facilities across the country which needed to be complemented with specialised staff and more diagnostic equipment.
Mr Bubala said Zambia had a lot to learn from India’s medical excellence and welcomed the initiative for tailor-made medical exchange programmes that would benefit Zambian health providers.
In another development, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)has picked India as the global host country for the World Environment Day which fell on June 5 in recognition of sustained efforts to conserve natural resources and green the environment.
This is according to the India-Africa Connect, an online publication of the Information Department in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
As part of commemorating the Day, India had embarked on mass community mobilisation to enlist the participation of people in tree-planting as part of the “Green Revolution” the country has embarked on.
Mr Nondo said given Zambia’s commitment to fighting the effects of climate change and inculcating a sense of environmental stewardship among the citizenry, India‘s approach of community-mobilisation in tree-planting and other environmental practices that were key to sustainable development, was worth emulating.
The theme chosen for this year by UNEP is “Forests: Nature at your Service”.
The theme underlines the intricate link between quality of life and conservation of natural resources.
Mr Nondo said the theme was also in conformity with this year’s UN International Year of Forests which seeks to draw international attention to the role forests play in protecting water catchment areas, supporting biodiversity, and providing carbon sinks to mitigate against the effects of climate change.
[ Times of Zambia ]
How many self-sponsoring zambians have been to this hospital for medical tourism?? If not Katele on zambian taxpayers billing!!! Bubala, tekanya, wila tu bala!!
Great news for Zambian there. No need to go to South Africa for medication. You will get the health services you need at your door step at an affordable price.
EVEN IF THIS HOSPITAL OPENS UP IN ZAMBIA IT WILL BE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ORDINARY ZAMBIANS SO IT WILL ONLY SERVE APAMAMWAS. IF YOU LOOK AROUND IN LUSAKA ALL THE PRIVATE CLINICS YOU WILL SEE THAT THEIR CHARGES ARE EXTREMLY HIGH AND 80% OF POOR ZAMBIANS ARE UNABLE TO AFFORD. WE NEED FREE HOSPITALS LIKE UTH AND NOT PRIVATE ONES WHO IS ONLY INTRESTED IN MAKING MILLIONS FROM ZAMBIA AND APOLO WILL BE ONE OF THEM SO THERES NO NEED TO BE EXITED .ZAMBIANS ONLY NEED FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT.
Cacine, we shouldn’t even be excited about this hospital, we know these are investors, this hospital will be expensive, fwebalanda tekwakupenena
#1..there are alot of self sponsored Zambians going to India for medical treatment. The cost of mediation in India is 3 to 4 times less than that of South Africa.
#3: It would take time for us to have our own specialised hospital able to handle all case( at the level of Appollo) because it would require training people, bringing in equipment etc and we cant let people continue dying. Appollo would be an interim solution. If Appollo were to come to Zambia we would benefit alot because: 1. people would stop going abroad for treatment(no need to take our money abroad, we would keep it in Zambia), 2. People from neighboring countries would start flocking to Zambia for treatment hence bringing in Forex(NB most cases handled by Appollo are from East/Southern Africa.
#2 amd #4 you are so naive!!!
NUMBER 4 SOROS, YOU ARE ONLY THINIKING OF YOUR SELF BECAUSE YOU MIGHT BE A RICH INDIAN BUSINESSMAN BUT THINK FOR A MINUTE DO YOU THINK THIS APOLLO OF YOURS WILL BE BENEFITING ORDINARY ZAMBIAN WHOM YOU COULD BE PAYING ONLY 100 USD PER MONTH FOR WORKING IN YOUR SHOP OR PAYING YOUR HOUSE SERVENT 75 USD. WE IN ZAMBIA WE NEED FREE HOSPITALS AND NOT MONEY MAKING HOSPITALS AS APOLLO AND SINCE YOU CAN AFFORD TO GO TO MUMBAI AT SAFI HOSPITAL WHICH IS KNOWN TO BE A 7 STAR HOSPITAL AND MAJORITY OF INDIANS FROM ZAMBIA FLOCK THERE EVEN JUST TO HAVE A CHECK UP SO PLEASE YOU CONTINUE FLYING TO MUMBAI AND LEAVE THE FREE HOSPITAL FOR US POOR ZAMBIANS
SORRY I MSS SPELT SAIFI HOSPITAL ,ITS SAIFI AND NOT SAFI.THIS HOSPITAL IS FAMOUS FOR RICH ZAMBIAN ASIANS.
#5Mig Mag.. elaborate. Try and counter argue the points i have brought out. The mere fact that I have not looked at the negative consequences of Foreign Investment i.e repatriation of profits, does not mean I am naive. I focused on the important aspects of this investment.
#6..I m not Indian, I m just a simple guy from Poto Village, Chinsali. And please note that there aint no such thing as a free hospital.
Soros, the fact that this govt seems to derive pleasure by encouraging foreigners to invest & reap profits, rather than encourage zambians abroad, lots in medicine, to do the same & not suffer from a lope sided system that penalises them becoz they are zambian. recognizing dual nationality will greatly encourage zambians to reinvest back home.
even if it opens in zambia the apamwambas ll still be go south africa for treatment.