Thursday, March 28, 2024

Health workers won’t lose jobs following realignment

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Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde unveils the plague to mark the official opening of the refurbished University Teaching Hospital Eye Centre of Excellence in Lusaka, Looking on is the head of eye clinic at UTH, Grace Mutati
Health Minister Dr Joseph Kasonde

Government has reiterated its commitment to improving access to a health system that provides better health, care and value for the Zambian people.

Minister of Health Joseph Kasonde said it was for this reason that the Patriotic Front (PF) government has realigned the portfolio functions of the ministries of Health and of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.

Speaking today when he held a meeting with Mine and Kabwe General Hospitals to explain the realignment to the hospital staff, Dr. Kasonde said the transformation of was in line with the PF manifesto which focuses on putting patient first.

He said there was urgent need to modernize the health system and equip all secondary hospitals in various Provinces with the necessary and specialized equipment to avoid referrals to other countries.

He noted that for a long time now, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) was the only hospital in the country that has been handling critical health cases.

Dr. Kasonde said other complicated cases had to be referred to countries such as India and South Africa for further medical examinations due to lack of specialized equipment at country level.

He however said the new government wants to equip local primary and secondary hospitals in order to alleviate such challenges.

He added that the transformation agenda includes a series of bold targets and innovations to signal his government’s commitment to improving access and health system quality in areas such as intensive care units.

Dr. Kasonde said in order to ensure access to care especially in rural and underserved communities, his government will invest significantly in primary health care and will remain on track with absolute commitment to providing faster, safer and smarter surgical care throughout the country.

He explained that the re-aligned ministries will encompass district hospitals, district medical offices, health centres and health posts which will all fall under the Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health.

He said these will be in charge of health promotion, community mobilization, prevention and restorative services.

Dr. Kasonde further said the ministry will also create provincial community medical offices, (PCMO) to coordinate service delivery at district levels.

He however said the Ministry of Health will remain accountable to the general health procedures and delivery of healthcare at secondary and tertiary levels as well as the setting of standards and performance appraisals.

He also disclosed that the implementation process of realigned functions was estimated to cost K 1.4 trillion and K2.2 trillion for the Ministry of Health.

And Ministry of Health Deputy Director for Technical Support Services, Dr. Dennis Mulenga, has assured the workers at the two Kabwe hospitals that their jobs were secure because the system remained intact.

Dr. Mulenga said the realignment was basically about enhancing the delivery of health care and will in no way affect the operations at whatever level.

He however stated that the Ministry of Health will continue implementing disease surveillance and the specialist referral services and the training of health workers, research and development.

He said the Ministry of Health was also looking forward to furthering government’s commitments in 2012 and 2013 and will remain committed to reporting on the progress that is being made towards this transformation within the financial parameters provided for in the 2013 national budget.

ZANIS

10 COMMENTS

  1. But don’t just talk but implement working policies. Work for Zambians and not for your survival as you politicians say.

    Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.

  2. This is really great. Health services will be brought closer to the people and should be much easier to manage. In addition, this will definately create more jobs for the people. We are behind you PF and ready to participate in the development of Mother Zambia. Zambian High Commissions around the World should ensure that this development is brought to the attention all Zambians in the diaspora so as to ensure a mass movement of professionals back to our Motherland. We love you Zambia!

  3. It is my hope and prayer that this wont go the same way that other reforms in the health sector in last twenty years have gone. The authorities should implement policies that are workable and from which the general public can derive more benefits. They should also be mindful of the cost implications of experimental reforms. There is need to sensitise the public so that they can also buy into the new reforms and be part and parcel of it. It is so annoying that some of the urban health facilities in Lusaka do not have even basic equipment such as hygrometres and so on. We can only wish the govt the best of luck as they embark on this onerous task of reforms and realignment in the health sector.

  4. This is total confusion.the bugdet for realignment can go a long were in modernising and upgrading of some of our rural and urban health centres which are in very deplorable conditions.I can foresee another central board of health scenerio where policy making and workshops chewed more resources at the expense of the ACTUAL health reforms.

  5. Really amazing – This government is so wastefull!!! The total administration cost of this realignment aone is K3.6 trillion. This money can built 2 Ultra modern well equipped hospitals OR 1 Modern University OR Pay school fees for poor students in ALL Higher level Institutions OR Clear the retirees arreas, the list of options is endless! BUT this PF Govt has chosen to waste such a collosal amount of money BECAUSE IT HAS NO KNOWN OFFICIAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN!! It is even more worrying that comentators like Zambian Lady No#2 can call this “GREAT”! What’s great?? She is an empty vessel off course!! THESE ARE USELESS PROJECTS DESIGNED BY THE PF TO STEAL PUBLIC FUNDS! Unfortunately, SATAN has intimidated the opposition to say the obvious!! YES..WE ARE BACK TO 1980s for REAL

  6. why not pump the trillions they are talking about in to ministry of health to improve service delivery. Am worried our files will get lost during this transition period.

  7. Alignments!!!!!what about my money????have been working three years but haven’t been paid my settling in allowance……with the swap of ministries only Heaven knows when it will come maybe when I die and my childrens children myt benefite!!!!LET’S b organised

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