Zambia Ready to Sign 1.5 Billion US Dollar Health Deal

Minister of Health Professor Roma Chilengi says Government is now satisfied with the agreement after addressing concerns raised during negotiations.

Professor Chilengi said the funding will be provided over five years to support Zambia’s health sector.

Speaking on the Sunday Interview programme, Professor Chilengi said Government had negotiated several provisions, including a proposal for some programmes under the agreement to run for 25 years despite the funding being provided for only five years.

He said Government also rejected a requirement that would have allowed biological specimens to be shared outside Zambia.

Professor Chilengi said the specimen-sharing requirement had been completely removed and no biological specimens would leave the country as a result of the agreement.

He said the United States will provide the funding in stages over the five-year period, with the amount expected to reduce each year.

Professor Chilengi said Zambia has also committed to increasing its own health expenditure to ensure that programmes introduced through the US funding remain sustainable after the agreement ends.

He said Government is also working to improve the use of public resources in the health sector by addressing waste, duplication and other weaknesses within the Ministry of Health and its statutory bodies.

Professor Chilengi said Government wants to ensure that existing resources are used prudently before seeking additional funding.

He said the ultimate goal is to ensure that money allocated to the health sector benefits patients through improved services, medicines, equipment and functioning health facilities.