Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has stated that Universal Health coverage (UHC) is a global health policy agenda that has been adopted as one of the health targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dr. Chilufya notes that the SDG number 3 aims at ensuring health lives and promotion of the wellbeing for all.
The Minister added that the country’s transformative agenda for inclusive economic growth is premised on successfully enhancing human development to which the health sector contributes through the provision of quality essential health- care services for the entire population.
Meanwhile, Dr. Chilufya stated that Zambia recognizes that the path to move towards achieving Universal Health Coverage is a smart investment for any country.
He reiterated that a predictable and sustainable health care financing mechanism is therefore pivotal to the health system reform if Universal Health Coverage has to be attained.
The Minister said to this effect, Zambia has identified the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme as one of the health financing strategies which will assist in ensuring a sustainable, predictable, and dedicated financing for the health sector and at the same time provide financial risk protection for the country.
And Dr. Chilufya stated that his Ministry’s transformational agenda is meant to change the landscape of how the Ministry conducts its business.
He said the intent has been the attainment of equity of access to cost effective quality health services as close to the family as possible.
Dr. Chilufya added that the Ministry has gone further to state that the vision must be delivered to all corners of the country hence the commitment to provision of universal health coverage.
The Minister said this in a statement released in the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Health Press Journal issued on April 30, 2018.
CORRECT ….
Just go to UTH , a kilometer away from State House and see how abysmal medical there is and this Dr.Cholera Chilufya is hallucinating
This is will be one of the biggest game changers for Zambia’s health system. It will be a huge catalyst for investment, improvement in quality services, competition in the health sector. The best health systems in the World operate on the back of such systems. Smart people will see the business opportunity to open high quality private health facilities now!
PAYE already includes medical care. Now there’s a new medical tax. What will happened the money we already pay?
How’s sustainable health gonna be achieved when majority of Zambians are still using pit latrines and trading on the streets in very putrid & sickening environments?
Mzambia wa Zamani: That is the question. A health system that has to treat people who come in with various infectious diseases is bound to be overwhelmed because of the high frequency of getting infections.
Hagain, it will not be happy! “He who does not give praise when it is due is a child of a witch!”
Good vision, Doctor! Focus and remain unmoved! Do not listen to those with a tribal agenda!
Credit to the Health authorities trying to achieve a functional approach and systems. I hope this equates to the rest of the cities towns and council areas across the country All these requires sufficient funding, although I am not too keen on private fee type! Perhaps Health Insurance for these who can afford and a subsidy to low income earners and the unemployed!
My last visit to UTH was quite overwhelming with improvements, starting with the staff in Smart clean uniforms and the tidy and hygienic corridors. Go to the new cancer wing, it is a state of the art building with functional lifts and a family waiting room on each floor, lovely Cafeteria on the ground floor. The pharmacy in main wing was well stocked , if a drug not available, you are provided with a prescription to go to…
Kasuli: State of the art building when it has a crack already? What are you talking about?
a Chemist of your choice.
I was later informed that UTH has adopted a self managed and funding of each departments, with its own directorship .This resonates from the improvements at Paediatrics to the newly refurbished A&E, opening soon..
NHI will achieve nothing as they cannot be trusted to spend money properly. This is a ministry where a human resource officer named Henry Kapoko was stealing millions and the permanent secretary and his finance staff had no clue it was going on. The Chiluba model of illicit enrichment is the guide of the PF and it goes like this, “Let me steal now, next time it will be you, next time the other fellow and by the end of the term we are all rich and powerful, praise the Lord, Amen”.
I am of the opinion that we start good projects for which we are ill prepared. That’s why they fail.