$53m Mobile hospitals is Rupiah’s concept – PS
$53m Mobile hospitals is Rupiah’s concept – PSWritten by Patson Chilemba
Friday, May 01, 2009 2:56:08 PM
HEALTH permanent secretary Dr Velepi Mtonga has said the concept to procure mobile hospitals from a friendly country was highlighted by President Rupiah Banda during this year's official opening of the third session of the tenth National Assembly.
And the international donors to the health sector yesterday stated that they were grateful to the Minister of Health Kapembwa Simbao for his assurance that no contract had been agreed on the mobile hospitals.
In a letter dated April 28, 2009 and addressed to Department for International Development (DFID) head Joy Hutcheon, Dr Mtonga stated that President Banda indicated during the official opening of the National Assembly that the government would procure mobile clinics from a friendly country to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that did not currently have any.
"With regards to whether the Mobile Hospital concept is a priority in our National Health Strategic Plan, I wish to indicate that based on our health vision as articulated in our National Health Policies and Strategies of 1991 which is further restated in our National Health Strategic Plan 2006-10, it is the intention of the Zambian Government to bring cost effective health services as close to the family as possible," Dr Mtonga stated.
"One avenue that would contribute to the Ministry's attainment of our health vision is the strengthening of outreach services through mobile health services. The concept was also highlighted by His Excellency the Republican President Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda in his speech during the official opening of the third session of the tenth National Assembly in 2009 in which he indicated that to complement efforts to construct 15 hospitals in the 19 districts that do not currently have any, Government will procure mobile clinics from a friendly country."
However, Dr Mtonga stated that in the case of the mobile hospitals, the Ministry of Health had not yet firmed up its decision to acquire the facilities as stated in the proposal from China National Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (CATIC).
She stated that the ministry was still looking at whether it was feasible and cost effective to undertake such an investment in the health sector or a modified version that would suit Zambia's needs.
Dr Mtonga stated that the ministry was to send a team to visit other countries including China where a similar concept had been implemented.
"It would therefore have been premature for the Ministry of Health to present to our Cooperating Partners the Mobile Hospital concept without the Ministry of Health having first arrived at a conclusive decision on moving forward with the Mobile Hospital Concept," she stated.
Dr Mtonga stated that the concept of providing mobile health hospitals/integrated out-reach services was not new to the Ministry of Health.
She stated that the ministry had been providing out-reach services but were limited in scope due to lack of adequate logistical support.
"In this regard, the Ministry of Health has faced many challenges in providing a systematic integrated out-reach health services which should include surgical interventions. Such mobile platforms may operate as a stand alone unit or as a support unit to an existing Health Facility thereby enabling the Ministry to provide mobile health services to the rural communities," she stated.
However, Dr Mtonga stated that as things stood now, the Zambian government had not signed any contract, agreement or loan towards implementing the Mobile Hospital concept.
She stated that government was still consulting with the Ministry of Finance and National Planning on the feasibility to set up mobile hospitals.
"In concluding, allow me as part of our consultative process within the SWAP framework to extend an invitation to our Cooperating Partners to jointly undertake a feasibility and cost effective analysis of the Mobile Hospital concept through the Procurement Technical Working Group once the Ministry of Health has arrived at a conclusive decision on the way forward," Dr Mtonga stated.
"I also wish to take this opportunity to thank all our Cooperating Partners for the support you have rendered to the Ministry of Health in improving the delivery of health services in Zambia."
Dr Mtonga thanked the donors for raising concerns on the mobile hospital project, which the Ministry of Health was currently looking at.
She stated that following the presentation by CATIC to the senior management in the Ministry of Health boardroom on the mobile hospital concept, a committee was set up to scrutinize the document on the proposed hospitals and make recommendations to the permanent secretary.
Dr Mtonga stated that the committee met on March 11 and 13, 2009.
"It was the view of the Committee that in principle, the concept of the Mobile Hospital be supported, but to continue seeking guidance from the Ministry of Finance and National Planning and the Zambia Public Procurement Authority," stated Dr Mtonga.
And according to a statement from donors to the health sector signed by Hutcheon and British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter, the donors were consulting on a suitable date for the signing of the addendum to the 2006 health memorandum of understanding (MoU).
The donors stated they had discussed the proposal to procure mobile hospitals with the health ministry and they were grateful with the Minister of Health's assurance that no contract had been agreed.
The donors stated that the Ministry of Health, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders would jointly assess the proposal and any other major health policy decisions through the normal mechanism.
"The Cooperating Partners remain committed to supporting the Ministry of Health to achieve goals of the National Health Strategic Plan 2006-2010 and accelerate progress towards the health Millennium Development Goals. Cooperating Partners have not withdrawn their support from the sector and signed agreements - such as the EC's Euro 36 million sector budget support to health - remain unchanged," stated the donors.
"We look forward to the continuing partnership with the Ministry of Health and are consulting on a suitable date for the signing of the addendum to the 2006 health MoU."
On Wednesday, highly-placed sources within the donor community revealed that they [donors] had called off the signing ceremony of the MoU [for support] at the high level forum which was scheduled for yesterday with the government because they needed a satisfactory explanation from the health ministry on the matter.
And DFID health and HIV/AIDS advisor Angela Spilsbury said pressure for the Ministry of Health (MoH) to procure mobile hospital units from a Chinese company is coming from outside the health sector.
On Tuesday, the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) opposed the government's intention to purchase mobile hospitals, describing it as misplaced priority.
According to sources within the donor community, the Zambian government is in the process of acquiring a US$53 million loan from EX-IM Bank of China to facilitate the acquisition of the mobile hospitals from a Chinese firm called CATIC.
The sources disclosed that donors held meetings last week in Lusaka to discuss this pending transaction between the Ministry of Health, on behalf of the Zambian government, and CATIC concerning the mobile hospitals.
According to sources, the Zambian government was not being honest and sincere on the procurement of mobile hospitals from China.
"It's surprising because government officials are saying, 'there is no deal which has been sealed concerning mobile hospitals'. They are saying, 'what is going on at the moment is consultation over the same matter?' They say that this issue is in its infancy," one of the donors said.
"But we know that this is not correct because we are aware that the PS [permanent secretary] of the Ministry of Health Dr Velepi Mtonga had some time back written a letter to the tender board [now Zambia Public Procurement Authority] asking for a waiver for them to single source these mobile hospitals. We are also aware that the tender board granted them the authority to single source and as we speaking these documents are on their way to the Attorney General's office for approval as per procedure.
"We don't know if it's a coincidence that the President is reorganising the Attorney General's chambers. From what we hear even the tender board was reluctant to give them [Ministry of Health] authority for single sourcing."
Labels: CORRUPTION, DFID, HEALTHCARE, JOY HUTCHEON, RUPIAH BANDA, VELEPI MTONGA
posted by MrK @ 1:57 PM
1 Comments:
I personally think that the Mobile Hospital Units are important to the people of the republic of Zambia.
Specialized medical facilities tend to be concentrated in medical centers in metropolitan areas, which results in unavailability of adequate medical care to large portions of our population.
I would wish to introduce to you readily available Field Medical Units from CueMed Consultants Ltd.
CueMED Mobile Field Hospital is envisioned as a unit capable of assisting a damaged hospital or adding capacity to a functioning hospital, following a dieses outbreak, natural disaster or act of terrorism.
The units are designed and equipped to provide a wide range of healthcare services, including emergency surgery, orthopedic stabilization, wound repair, burn treatment, cardiovascular and pulmonary care, invasive and noninvasive advanced life support for cardiac arrest, comprehensive asthma care, and dental procedures.
The Vehicle Hospital Units has total body dimensions of up to 8.0 meters, exterior width 2.5 meters and interior height 2.0 meters of space.
The Medical Tents have up to a capacity of 12 beds. They are designed with an air-conditioning system, drainage outlets and are well ventilated.
For more information please visit; http://www.cuemed.com/field
Mike N.
CueMed Ltd
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