Mobile Hospital Proposal Raises Dust

Government plans to set up mobile hospitals in the country's nine provinces has received bad media coverage especially from private newspapers. However on April 29 Information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha refuted reports hat donors had given government an ultimatum to explain the proposed purchase of mobile hospitals worth US$53 million failure to which funding to the Ministry of Health will be withheld.

Shikapwasha said the Government had not received any written communication asking it to explain the proposed hospitals. He said it was unfortunate that some people had sensationalised the matter. He said the donors could not threaten to withdraw funding to the Ministry of Health merely on the basis of a proposal.

“The issue of mobile hospitals is merely a proposal. This is the reason why we have put up a team to discuss this matter, looking at the merits and demerits,” he said.

Asked how the Government would manage the hospitals especially in areas where the road network is bad, Gen Shikapwasha said roads would be worked on using recently acquired equipment which have been distributed throughout the country.

Ministry of Health spokesperson, Reuben Mbewe has said the mobile health services concept is not new, as the Government had been providing outreach programmes particularly in the rural areas.

Dr Mbewe said in response to a Press query that the concept was one of the ministry’s strategies to provide quality health services as close to the people as possible.

“However, the provision has been on limited scale due to inadequate logistical support. This has led to the ministry not being able to provide systematic outreach health services which should include surgical interventions,” he said.

He said access to health services in the urban areas was almost 100 per cent within a radius of five kilometres while in the rural areas access stood at 50 per cent, prompting the ministry to consider developing a comprehensive mobile hospital concept to benefit the rural poor.

“Furthermore, you may be aware the donors are seeking clarity in this programme and we’ve agreed to work together with them. We’ll have a decision, which will be reached after a consultative process. We have not yet decided. No deal has been signed,” he said.

On the tender procedure, Dr Mbewe said the ministry was seeking advice on single sourcing and that authority would be requested if the concept was taken up.

“Tender procedures take time, hence the initiation of communication with them. Just because we are engaging the Tender Board does not mean we have signed the deal,” Dr Mbewe said.

Government has been running a flying doctor service for many years. However the mobile hospitals would increase availability of health services.