By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE proposed move of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) from the Ministry of Health to Labour will hinder certain people mostly those that are not in formal employment to get quality health services, says former Health minister Dr Chitalu Chilufya.
Dr Chilufya said in an interview that moving NHIMA from the Ministry of Health would limit the access of health as it would focus just on people who were in employment while the unemployed would have challenges.
“I feel that universal health care is important and people should be given whether in formal employment or not and this is what will happen if NHIMA is taken to the ministry of Labour,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Chilufya commended President Hakainde Hichilema for prioritising health care financing in his quest to improve health care in the country.
Dr Chilufya said the move was commendable and that he needed to be given a pat on the back for that bold step.
He said he supported the President and that this was the type of commitment that was needed for the country to have a sustainable health service.
“Personally, the head of State has my full support because he has shown that he cares about the health of the millions of Zambians,” Dr Chilufya said.
