In a bid to improve access to quality healthcare services, the Hon. Minister of Health Dr Elijah Julaki Muchima has signed a $427 million contract with NMS Infrastructure for the design, construction and equipping of five Level 1 District Hospitals and 120 rural Health Centres nationwide in Zambia.
Speaking during the contract signing ceremony on 15 August 2024, which was live-streamed on social media, Dr Muchima declared that the three-year investment programme will be “transformative” towards the Government’s aim to provide universal health coverage and is designed to improve access to healthcare:
“One of the key ways we have been working to achieve this is by investing heavily in expanding and upgrading health facilities nationwide” he said. “Access to quality healthcare has been a challenge for many Zambians, especially those living in rural and hard-to-reach areas. Too many of our citizens are having to travel long distances to reach the nearest hospital or clinic.”
He announced that the new district hospitals will be strategically located to serve as hubs for comprehensive healthcare, offering a wide range of in-patient and out-patient services, including surgery, diagnostics, and emergency care.
The programme is expected to be completed by 2027.