Africa-Press – Zambia. President HAKAINDE HICHILEMA says the Government is determined to end the pilferage of medicines and medical supplies in the country.
President HICHILEMA says this is why his Government has made the theft of medicines a non- bailable offence and elevated it to the level of an economic crime.
He explains that the measure is intended to ensure the public has consistent access to medicines and medical supplies in all health facilities.
The President has also expressed concern over inefficiencies and poor work culture in the health sector, noting that patients are often forced to stand in long queues for hours to access health services.
He said this when a delegation led by World Bank Country Manager ACKIM FOCK paid a courtesy call on him at State House, where they presented the five year National Health Compact aimed at attaining Universal Health Coverage.
And Health Minister ELIJAH MUCHIMA explained that the compact will, over the next five years, work to reduce the maternal mortality rate and lower the neonatal mortality rate.
Meanwhile Dr. FOCK explained that the Compact will serve as a strategic roadmap to align resources across domestic and external sources.
He said these are high-level, government-led agreements that define shared priorities, reforms, and investment needs in health sector.
And World Health Organisation –WHO- Representative CLEMENT LASUBA said the compact will accelerate progress towards quality affordable health services for all.
MEANWHILE, JICA Chief Representative ONO TOMOKO said his organisation is ready to support Zambia with the high impact health sector solutions to unlock the challenges in the sector.
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