Levy Mwanawasa Hospital workers strip-searched over pilferage suspicions

By NATION REPORTER

EMPLOYEES at Lusaka’s Levy Mwanawasa Hospital are being victimised as they are being strip-searched by security on suspicion of   pilfering drugs at the institution, former Residents Doctors Association of Zambia President Dr Brian Sampa has said.

Dr Sampa said it was unfortunate that the government wanted to put the blame of drug shortages on the health workers when it was not the case.

He said that workers should not be victimised because they were not the ones to blame for the drug shortages that were being experienced in hospitals.

Dr Sampa said the government needed to own up and ensure that they procured the medicines rather than victimise innocent workers whose morale was already very low.

“I undertook a research at Levy Mwanawasa Hospital where I discovered that workers are strip searched on suspicion that they are stealing drugs, which is very sad because we all know that this matter is government’s fault and they should just ensure that they procure medicines,” he said.

Dr Sampa said that Health workers are not criminals and that people’s incompetencies should not be heaped on innocent individuals who are trying their best to save lives.

“I just want to urge the Health minister to do her job and ensure that she gets the drugs in hospital not this scenario we are seeing where they want to victimise health workers,” he said.

Dr Sampa said the issue was disrespectful and that the relevant authorities needed to ensure that justice prevailed.