The United Party for national Development (UPND) has said that the admission by the admission by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Peter Mwaba that he is under political pressure from the PF to keep sending politicians, their friends and cronies for treatment abroad makes for very sad reading.
In a statement released to the media, UPND Chairperson for Media, Charles Kakoma said that the money that the PF Government is spending on sending people for treatment abroad can be better utilised to provide more equitable access to healthcare for all Zambian citizens.
Below is the full statement
OFFICIAL STATEMENT
UPND calls for quality Healthcare for ALLÂ
The admission by Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Dr. Peter Mwaba that he is under political pressure from the PF to keep sending politicians, their friends and cronies for treatment abroad makes for very sad reading.
How much does it cost to send a patient for treatment in South Africa? A patient is usually accompanied by at least one person. Assuming the patient travels by commercial aircraft, the air ticket for 2 people will be K11,000, while an air ambulance will charge about K120,000. Ground transportation in South Africa is another cost.
The hospital bill for the patient depending on condition will be at least K3,000 per day. While the hotel bill and upkeep for accompanying person is about K2,000 per day. The average hospital stay for these VIP patients is about 14 days.
According to Dr Mwaba himself the average bill ends up totalling K3.6 million of taxpayer’s money for just one patient. Hundreds of patients, mostly those connected to the PF, are sent for treatment abroad by Government. Compare and contrast this with a simple K50,000 monthly grant to Kanyama Clinic.
Kanyama Clinic attends to over 200 hundred patients a day. How can this Government justify spending so much money sending patients abroad? Are they trying to convey a message that the lives of politicians, their families and cronies are more important than the rest of us? More important than the millions of Zambians who have no connections? We cannot continue like this. Such disparity in treatment is divisive and undermines equality and unity.
The money that the PF Government is spending on sending people for treatment abroad can be better utilised to provide more equitable access to healthcare for all Zambian citizens.
Sending patients abroad for treatment in itself is not wrong. However, using government resources for a select elite who are politically connected to be treated abroad is immoral. If such treatment is to be paid for by Government then it must be open to all citizens equally.
Zambia has one of the worst health indicators in the world. Infant and maternal mortality is very high. 45% of children under 5 years of age are stunted. Children are dying from preventable and treatable diseases and this Government has the audacity to spend at least K3.6 million per patient for treatment abroad. This is while we have a known shortage of 11,992 nurses and midwives.
The only way to compel the PF Government to stop abusing the facility of sending patients abroad is to publish clear criteria on what conditions qualify and ensure that the barriers that exist for the majority to be considered are removed. Furthermore, we must work urgently to reduce the amount of our healthcare budget spent sending patients abroad, as we are essentially funding healthcare systems in other countries rather than our own. This money must be used to improve healthcare delivery locally.
It seems perverse that currently those in the best position to find funding for their own treatment abroad are often those most likely to receive government funding. wish to be treated abroad will have to pay for themselves. Our goal is quality universal healthcare for all Zambians, regardless of their standing in society.
Charles Kakoma
UPND Chairperson for Media
This site is now infested by Upnd minions from zwd who have lowered the calibre of LT by trading insults and demeaning comments. LT will now loose credibility like zwd soon. Sad indeed.
This is a scandal. Certain people have no shame. How can a broke govt like PF spend $330 000 on one patient? How many bole holes can they sink with that kind of money. When Edgar said he had no vision, we should have listened
Amazing- I was wondering why the weapon was quiet. The weapon of Mass destruction called MS.
Ladies and gentlemen the greatest president your country has ever had is MS. That’s right Michael Sata.
But we have a version 2. Come on that should make it better? Version 2 is often an improvement
The MS- this time Miles Sampa
Same acronym, same desire to take this country to better and unreachable levels.
Remember the name in August Miles Sampa?
You convinced right?
Vote Miles Sampa
Thanks
BB2014
Ok, let us wait for Kambwili to erupt on this subject!
Like all whistle blowers, Peter Mwaba is honest and courageous.
mushota second to comment today kikikiki
@hh techilema
I have NO political affiliation or sympathy.
And actually, if you would be honest and objective it is the PF supporters that do not address the issues raised, and are the insulters! Admittedly they are in the minority here on LT, but of that minority most of them are insulters.
I find that the declared supporters of UPND generally comment on the issues at hand.
So I have made a quick survey.
Of all comments 69% show support for one party or another. The remaining 31% are neutral or undecided.
Of those showing party support 67% are UPND and 11% PF, the balance support minor parties.
Of the comments I deem insulting and/or irrelevant within those percentages, UPND supporters produced 27%. Within PF supporters nearly 92% were insulting or irrelevant…
Kambwili will soon give us a reason to debate on this matter.
IMPARTIAL OBSERVER!!!
that if the PF for you, just like their leaders. They completely ignore the topic at hand and start insulting. just like Kambwili on HHs vist to SA. Instead of talking about the topic he launches a tirade of abuse.
If they are not borrowing, they are stealing, if they are not stealing they are insulting.
@HH Tecilema why don’t u check yourself in at China may before it gets worse
AS MUCH AS I APPRECIATE WHAT PF HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY WITHIN FEW YEARS TIME, I AM NOT A SUPPORTER OF SENDING POLITICIANS IN GOVERNMENT ABROAD OR OVERSEAS FOR MEDICATION. I WOULD RATHER WE HAVE THOSE MEDICAL FACILITIES AT HOME. 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE IS A LONG TIME NOT MANY EXCELLENT SPECIALIST HOSPITALS. WE MUST BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES AS A COUNTRY. THE CONSTITUTION MUST BE RE-AMENDED TO INCLUDE: NO POLITICIAN TO GO ABROAD FOR MEDICATION ABROAD/OVERSEAS. ONLY CHILDREN AND BABIES.
ba UPND muzatuvuta! You cut and paste m’membe past paper and paste it pa LT. M’membe always twist the facts of someone
Your comparison should be with a human life. What is a life if a Zambian human being worthy? You will only appreciate this is a human being involved is yourself.
If human life is valuable, we should prioritize by investing in our local health system not sending people where it is more expensive to care for them. You obviously missed the point.
The PS should be fired for abusing his authority period.
You mean for exposing the truth?
Fired for abusing his authority?
He should be arrested for being complicit in a criminal offence!
This is theft of the Zambian Taxpayers resources, pure and simple! And CORRUPTION at its worst!
These people must be identified, and those of them that are not government employees entitled to such treatment in their contracts must be made to PAY BACK THE MONEY!
THIEVING SWINES!
And yet the don’t want to pay medical students. …no priorities whatsoever!!
All citizens are entitled to equitable health services devoid of who is who or their political inclination.
was this said by the PS or its just another fabricated story………..????? yaba ba upnd are so quick to write to the media how i wish it was the soluions to the problems there offering…..jst like there are quick to have press conferences…mayb they shud also have a press conference on this issue tho i highly doubt the credibility of this story….IWE KAMUSHOTA AKANYO KWATI MWAUUUUUUUU *****…
do you think all those officials flown out for treatment cost the taxpayer nothing ??
@spaka like lilo
This is not just Government officials only. THIS IS THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES who are not even working for Government THAT ARE BENEFITING!
CORRUPTION PURE AND SIMPLE!
We still await to know how much was spent by the government on trying to find all sorts of doctors and sangomas here and abroad for Sata while knowing only too well that the vile Mnwacusa had an incurable concoction of ailments derived from “ubulwele bwakuiletelela ichimwine”. Look at Lungu too, the chap is also infected and one wonders why Mumbi-Phiri and Bokossi Dora are chewing “koku kalile saladi ni bupilo”.
LT is now beginning to behave like the Zambian Watchdog. Where is the comment I just posted? Did I insult anybody? I never do that.
UPND cretins
1. If the Quota is Not followed
If there is such a document and it is hence not followed people who are championing for it will feel betrayed by Hichilema in the event he chose either Mwamba or Banda as his Running mate. It will mean most people will not campaign for the party as they have done before. The point is that how do you sell something that you did not order or plan to sell. Now this is where I feel sorry for Hichilema who may have worked hard in the past 10 years. He doesn’t know what to do in this case. “ Do I tell them to go to hell or do I sweet talk them. Do I chose Mwamba or Banda over the people who have been carrying the name of the party for the last 10 years? There has been mention of Jack Mwiimbu. Another person to have been tipped to take over from HH is Gary Nkombo…
Just find a correct platform to debate that issue. Who HH decides to be running mate is his own issue. For you just worry about how PF will work with a divided and weak corrupt MMD.
2. If the Quota is Followed
If Hikainde’s Running Mate happens to come from Tonga land people from other parts of Zambia might not vote for UPND as it will be seen as a Tribal Party. The same way people have looked at the so called Orange Accord of Miles Sampa, Eric Chanda and Elise Chipimo which I may say is a tribal pact. Whatever their motive is tribal parties or pacts have no place in our democracy. Similarly that Quota which UPND founding members are calling for will just bury Hichilema together with his funders. People who have called UPND a tribal or regional party will be vindicated.
Don’t get me wrong here. Hichilema and his team of advisers if he happens to have up to date ones should put their foot down and do the right thing. Our democracy and political land scape should…
The PS is saying that political pressure exists in society generally and in developing economies in particular. It is something that cannot be shaken off by using moral criteria in isolation. There is need to build capacities in the country, economically, politically, socially and culturally. It is wrong to divert attention from the challenge of social security, social welfare and educational access.
Doc, please spare us from stale slogans. Money (7 billion USD) has been borrowed in past 4 years. Well, can you get simple coronary ailment treated on demand in Zambia?
WE HAVE LONG WARNED PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA THAT PF GOVERNMENT IS JUST MASQUERADING AS OUR LEADERS OF OUR LAND, ENTRUSTED TO DRIVE THE ECONOMY OF OUR COUNTRY, BUT REALITY IS THAT THESE GUYS ARE A SERIOUS SYNDICATE OF LOOTERS AND CRIMINALS WHO ARE BUSY MILKING OUR COUNTRY OF ITS RESOURCES TO MAKE US A BANKRUPT COUNTRY. THE CHIEF LOOTER LUNGU KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON, BUT PRETENDS TO BE INNOCENT. ZAMBIANS CHOOSE YE TODAY WHOM YOU WANT TO RULE YOU, HH OR LUNGU.
HH Techilema – you seem to be posting your ka comment everywhere. Even some of us who supported PF in the last election have changed our minds especially after closing the two universities. It is not the watch bloggers my dear but some of us who have changed our course of direction. So continue dreaming with your ka comment.
What is wrong with that when PF is busy building and upgrading hospitals? what is wrong is HH’s selling of our companies and not holding a convention for over 11 years.
1mbecile, where are you going to get doctors when you are closing Universities?
Ba UPND UK has dumped Morgan Twsvngari now suporting Mugabe’s vice. Next it will be your junior Mugabe who doesnt want to respect UPND constitution. Let HH go for convetion we dont want wamuyayaya in zambia
Typical of UPND; always taking pride in Zambia’s misfortunes. Load shedding and devaluation of our currency excites HH. Check his personal blog at Zambian Watch Dog. HH is digging his own political grave, he will be buried on 11th August,2016.
Misfortunes created by 1mbeciles like you who voted for PF
Only a very stupid fool would not be concerned with these happenings. this is not about PF or UPND or any party, it is about a few selfish and corrupt individuals benefiting themselves at the expense of the majority of Zambians. it doesn’t matter what political party one supports, every normal thinking Zambian must find this appalling. most of you that are busy insulting each other here on social media whether PF or UPND, there is nothing you are personally benefiting from this loot that these selfish people are doing so why go out of your way trying to justify this broad day light thievery? lets wake up and for once analyse things objectively.
@Ngobala
Ulicipuba we dont talk ill about dead pipo who cant defend themselves, why are you writting rubbish about ba Sata? You dont have manners where ever you come from thats why you will perpetually be in oppsition styopeti.
profile for collins kabamba…
send me contacts for peter mwaba.