GOVERNMENT has warned health workers against soliciting and receiving bribes from patients so as to provide a quicker service.
Health Minister Joseph Kasonde said in an interview that the perpetrators of corruption in public health facilities would be severely punished.
Dr Kasonde said the ministry had received a number of complaints from across the country that health workers were receiving money from patients to help them jump the queue.
“We have come across reports that some health workers are offering a faster service to some patients for a payment. Our position on that is very clear, we condemn that and any person found to be a perpetrator will be punished severely,” he said.
Dr Kasonde said the Ministry of Health was on the lookout for such health workers because Government did not tolerate corruption.
It was important, however, that there should be sufficient evidence against such people because Government could only act on the basis of accurate information.
Dr Kasonde said it was easier to get to a correct conclusion if the evidence was available.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is in the process of implementing a policy to train 30 health workers in sign language.
Dr Kasonde said the ministry had agreed with associations speaking for the deaf that training 30 people in sign language in order to help those with hearing impairments was a good idea.
He said the idea was on policy level and had not been implemented yet.
The minister said he has held discussions with the appropriate associations to see how best to implement the policy.
Once the discussions were done, experts would be brought in to implement the policy.
You mean to tell me that all this time the government has never known that medical service workers take bribes. Warning them will not work. Put serious measures in place. Most people who seek medical attention on government hospitals or clinics have very little money yet these vultures (workers) extort bribes. If they don’t pay they don’t get service. Medical workers without compassion for the sick is what we have in Zambia. Workers who are unhelpful and rude.
We arenow following Congo ,this is what poverty breeds.Too bad
But why warn someone if there is insufficient evidence? You know them. Just fire them. But isn’t this the same concept of High Cost Clinics in most health institutions? Pay more to get faster and better service? In fact dont fire them because they are acting within high cost policy of government. Just ask them to declare to the ministry
WHY DO PATIENTS HAVE TO WAKE UP BEFORE 05:00HRS FOR WEEKS TO QUE UP AT UTH ESPECIALLY AT THE CANCER SCREENING.? WHEN DOCTORS COME AT 7:30HRS THEY WORK ON 50 PATIENTS OUT HUNDREDS.
IF YOU DON’T RESOLVE SUCH. PATIENTS WILL OPT FOR FAST TRACK.
@kwa George, what cancer screening clinic asks you to que up at 05:00hrs?
Corruption is in every government institution including state house. One man said: “Mismanagement and corruption are identical twins. Where you find one, the other is always nearby”. This country has simply been mismanaged and now we are reaping what we sowed. It will not get better as long as we continue doing things the same way we always have – voting for mediocre individuals into leadership positions.