N/WEST PS EMPHASISES ON HEALTH CARE EXPENSES
By NATION REPORTER IT is government’s desire to ensure that health care expenses are reduced on the part of Zambians, says North Western Province Permanent Secretary Ephraim Mateyo
Speaking during the commemoration of World Health Day which was commemorated under the theme ‘’Universal Health Coverage’’ in a speech read for him by his deputy Douglas Ngimbu yesterday, Mr Mateyo said currently government through parliamentarians has formulated a social health insurance law which is envisaged to contribute to the funds needed to provide quality health services as well as cushion the cost of accessing health services for all Zambians.
He said universal health coverage was about ensuring that all the people and communities had access to quality health services where and when they needed them without sufferinJ financial hardship.
‘’It also includes a full spectrum of services needed throughout life thus from the health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care,’’ Mr Mateyo said.
He said government through the Ministry of Health has focused on ensuring that all the people in the country accessed quality health services at no cost.
He said this has been demonstrated through developing health infrastructure across the country such as the construction of health posts, deployment of the newly Tualified health professionals to the facilities and the introduction of the result based financinJ in all the districts.
‘‘Apart from that, the Ministry of Health has prioritised the prevention of diseases by strengthening the health promotion strategies to facilitate disease prevention, active surveillance of communicable and non-communicable diseases,’’ Mr Mateyo said.