By AARON CHIYANZO in Mansa
HEALTH workers should refrain from using patients as a bargaining tool when aggrieved, President Edgar Lungu has said.
President Lungu said there were channels of airing grievances and that the code of ethics must be respected at all times.
He appealed to health workers to be dedicated to duty at all times and to conduct themselves in a professional manner.
President Lungu said this at the commissioning of Chinkoshi Mini Hospital in Mansa yesterday.
“I appeal to our health workers not to use patients as a bargaining tool when they have grievances. There are right channels to follow and code of ethics must be respected,” he said.
And President Lungu said the PF government was focused on strengthening health systems by continuing to invest in health infrastructure and personnel.
He said the aim was to bring quality health services closer to people to shorten distances.
President Lungu said the newly constructed Chinkoshi Mini Hospital was part of the 108 mini hospitals and three hospitals being built in different parts of the country under the US$300 million package from the United Kingdom.
He said 46 fully equipped mini hospitals had been completed.
President Lungu also announced that 559 health posts out of the 650 which were being constructed countrywide had been completed.
He also said 36 district hospitals had been completed in the past five years with 15 at various stages of construction.
President Lungu said the new 40-bed mini hospital was a comprehensive package comprising a theatre, staff houses and mother’s shelter among others.
He said 20 mini hospitals had been commissioned in Luapula so far.
