By KALOBWE BWALYA
WE HAVE not fished out anyone in terms of getting money for recruitment but we’ll keep our eyes open and anyone found wanting will be prosecuted, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Administration, Dr George Magwende, has warned.
Dr Magwende said in an interview that his office has not received any report regarding officials from the ministry collecting money for recruitment from people as they heeded an earlier warning.
He warned if anyone is found wanting, the law will take its course as it is a criminal act collecting money from people illegally.
Dr Magwende said the ministry will be on the look out to bring to book any culprit who could be in conflict with the law. And Dr Magwende has said the government has placed premium on health promotion and prevention as opposed to curative care, where the public has early access to medical assistance, early detection and prevention of illnesses.
He however said the ministry supports the Medland Hospital’s efforts to improve the overall good health and well-being of the public since its inception in 2019.
He said government has been working together with other private hospitals, such as Medland Hospital to fight the Covid-19 pandemic with progressive methods through community awareness and prevention.
Dr Magwende said this when he launched an inaugural health week aimed at turning sick care to health care at Medlands Hospital in Lusaka yesterday.
He said the hospital has been contributing to the health status of Zambians as well as making strategic partnerships with institutions across Africa to foster advanced health care in the country.
Meanwhile, Medlands Hospital chief executive officer Dr Mohamed el Sahili disclosed that the hospital has since integrated health care to foster a culture of seeking preventive care. Dr Sahili said during the health week the hospital will offer approach to health care by creating awareness on the importance of routine medical check-ups for improved overall physical, social and mental health status.
He said the hospital will also advocate for preventive care as opposed to curative care for early detection and prevention of an illness so as to maintain good health and well-being among other.
Yesterday, the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) President Dr Chrispin Moyo said the ongoing recruitment process of 11, 200 health personnel by government is not systematic and lacks transparency and accountability.
Dr Moyo said this is because the process lacks empirical evidence on where specific health personnel will be placed depending on the country’s disease burden and the existing human resource gap.
He said this in Lusaka at a media briefing and also noted the slow pace in the recruitment process because the association was hoping the first recruitment should have been done by April 1, 2022.
Dr Moyo has demanded that the ministry of Health goes back to the drawing board in the recruitment process of doctors to come up with a system that will accommodate all doctors needing to be recruited by the government.
And Dr Moyo said the association is concerned with the recent happenings at Matero Level 1 Hospital where the entire management was changed following pictures that were shared on social media by private individuals and political figures showing the hygienic environment of the health facility and engaging patients.
He however advised Government to consider more local procurement of drugs to mitigate the shortage in some health facilities.
He explained that the transitioning of procurement of drugs from the Ministry of Health to Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency has created a gap in the supply chain.
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