By STANSLOUS NGOSA –
IN the quest to bring primary health care service as close to the community as possible, Government through the Ministry of health has started deploying specialised doctors to all provincial health facilities.
The ministry has further advised the University Teaching Hospital Management not to withhold professionals that have completed Post Graduate Studies but deploy them in needy area.
Health deputy minister Chitalu Chilufya said in an interview that deployment of the specialised doctors to provincial health hospitals is cost effective and it would significantly reduce congestion due to referral at UTH.
“We are determined as Patriotic Front Government under President Edgar Lungu to ensure that we have a healthy and productive nation by ensuring that we take primary health care as close to the families as possible,” Dr Chilufya said.
The Government wants to ensure that four major disciplines which include Paediatrics, Internal Medicine, Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynaecology are available at provincial level in order to promote cost affectivity in the health delivery.
This development is part of Government’s aspirations as spelt out in the National Training Operative Plan as well as, the PF manifesto to promote health.
The Government wants to establish specialised care units that are fully equipped and staffed in order to reduce the number of patients referred abroad.
Service delivery, human resources, medicines and technology, health   financing, health information systems and leadership and governance,  are  major pillars the Government is applying to provide primary health care.