By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
GOVERNMENT has expressed concern with increasing reports of shortage of essential drugs in some health facilities across the country
Minister of Health Jonas Chanda said it was also disappointing that life-saving equipment in major health facilities remained non-functional. Dr Chanda was speaking shortly after touring Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and other health facilities in the district yesterday.
“Why have critical equipment such as CT Scans among others remain in a broken-down state for many years without seeking solutions.
“We need these machines to work for the benefit of the people by ensuring that all the necessary equipment is brought back to life,” he said.
Dr Chanda also urged the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) to ensure that all the contributions were sent directly to health facilities designated to administer the policy.
He also directed the Copperbelt Provincial Health office to stop all private laboratories operating in public health institutions which he said were eroding public confidence in public health institutions.
Meanwhile, NTH Senior Medical Superintendent Dr Joseph Musowoya said the CT scan had been down since 2016 adding that plans to have it repaired were on cards.
Dr. Musowoya also raised various challenges the hospital was faced with among them, the leaking roof.
