Maravi

HPCZ entreats govt to effect Abuja declaration on funding

HPCZ entreats govt to effect Abuja declaration on funding
By Agness Changala
Wed 05 Oct. 2011, 08:30 CAT

HEALTH Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ) has urged the new government to ensure it meets the 15 per cent Abuja declaration on funding to the health sector. In an interview, HPCZ registrar Dr Mary Zulu said financing was still one of the challenges facing the health sector in Zambia.

Dr Zulu said despite Zambia being a signatory to the Abuja declaration of ensuring that at least 15 per cent of the annual national budget is allocated to the health sector, it had remained a challenge.

"I think for Zambia that has been a challenge, for example in 2010, the information we have is that only 9 per cent of the annual national budget went to health and already, if you have such a development, then it means we have challenges in the delivering of health services," Dr Zulu said.

She said the health sector was still facing a critical shortage of human resource involving all professionals across the board.

"We are talking about critical shortage of doctors, nurses and the
paramedical, the establishment in the public health care system,
should be 52,000 health workers, and just above 50 per cent of the
establishment has been filled and it means the health worker is
overworked," Dr Zulu explained.

She said more health practitioners should be trained, recruited and
retained especially in rural areas.

Dr Zulu said the council was facing challenges of inadequate funding
and logistics such as transport to carry out its functions, shortage
of staff which was making the enforcement of the law weak and limited
office space.

She said the government should support the council to implement the
licensing of public admission health facilities.

Dr Zulu said this, once implemented, will increase the council's
revenue base and help them expand office space, recruit qualified
staff and meet the logistical requirements for the council to carry
out its functions.

The council registers all health practitioners wishing to work in
Zambia and regulate their professional conduct.

It also licenses health care facilities and approves training
programmes for health professionals under the health professions Act
of 2009.

Labels: HEALTHCARE

posted by MrK @ 1:50 PM