The ministry of health has waived fees that volunteer medical doctors coming into the country pay for them to practice in mission hospitals.
Ministry of Health permanent secretary in charge of administration Kennedy Malama says this is against the background that the volunteer doctors do not get salaries when operating in Zambia.
Dr. Malama however says government will always ensure medical doctors coming into the country are properly certified to practice.
He said this to ZNBC news in Lusaka.
Yesterday, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya directed the Health Professions Council of Zambia -HPCZ- to stop charging volunteer doctors who come to render their services in mission hospitals.
And HPCZ registrar and Chief executive officer Aaron Mujajati said his Council will heed the minister’s directive.
Can the minister also reduce the cost of License fees for expatriate doctors! Why are foreign doctors paying over K15,000 per year compared to their Zambian counterparts who are paying only K2,500? We have worked in other countries where we paid the same amount as local doctors. Is there beef between foreign and Zambian doctors? We as a country don’t have enough specialists! Tanzania has over 70 Radiologists while Zambia is still single digit! Who would want to come word where they don’t sound welcome? Please extend the gesture!
This is a welcome move by the Minister although at the same time it proves that the HPCZ is not independent or autonomous and is therefore subject to manipulations from the Minister.