Government will employ 210 medical doctors under the ongoing 2025 health personnel recruitment process, in addition to the 727 doctors engaged between 2023 and 2024.
Minister of Health Alex Katakwe told Parliament yesterday that the recruitment process for 2025 is nearing completion. He was responding to a question from Kalabo Central Member of Parliament Chinga Miyutu, who sought clarification on the number of medical doctors employed by Government from 2023 to 2025, broken down by year.
Dr Katakwe stated that 277 doctors were employed in 2023, while 450 were recruited in 2024.
“For 2025, at least 210 doctors are expected to be recruited upon completion of the ongoing recruitment process,” he said.
The minister added that Government plans to deploy the doctors to rural and underserved areas as part of efforts to strengthen the health workforce and improve access to health services.
Dr Katakwe also said the patient-to-doctor ratio currently stands at 12,000 patients to one doctor.
“Currently, with the state-of-the-art equipment we have brought into the country, and we are installing in various health facilities, we need specialisation,” he said.
“It is the mandate of the Ministry of Health to have many skilled personnel recruited.”
Earlier, during the commemoration of World Health Day, Dr Katakwe said Government is installing high-tech equipment at the Cancer Diseases Hospital to reduce referrals abroad.
He said referring patients outside the country will become unnecessary due to ongoing investments in the health sector.
