Question

Describe the 10 Types of Health care systems in Zambia.

Answer 1

Zambia has been implementing health reforms since 1992 under the framework of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAP), which takes a holistic development view of the sector. In the SWAP, resources from government and other stakeholders are pooled so as to ensure efficient utilisation of resources. The mission of the health sector is to significantly increase life expectancy in Zambia by creating environments and encouraging life styles that support health. The financing of the basic health care package is a priority to try to reduce both morbidity and mortality rates and contribute to poverty reduction.

A lack of human resources is also present in Zambia impacting the delivery of services. This problem is due to three factors:

* Medical staff leaving abroad mainly to the US and UK

* Medical staff leaving the Public Sector for the Private Sector in Zambia

* The impact of HIV/AIDS on health workers

In 1995 a new Mental Health Services Act was passed to replace the Mental Disorders Act of 1951. this was repealed in 2005 to pave the way for the dissolution of the Central Board of Health. As a result, there is no approved mental health act currently in place. There are 0.5 mental health outpatient facilities and 1.6 beds in psychiatric hospitals per 100,000 people (2011).

*public healthcare in Zambia-Zambia offers universal healthcare to all its citizens. By Western standards this healthcare is very basic and Zambia’s public healthcare system is chronically underfunded. Many Zambian doctors leave the country or work only for the private health system, meaning that public health is subject to a skills drain.

*Private healthcare in Zambia-There are good private hospitals in Zambia’s larger cities, particularly Lusaka. These cater not only to foreigners but also to affluent Zambians. Expats living in mining communities and compounds owned by their organisation are likely to find company-sponsored clinics on-site that are able to cater for their basic medical needs. most expats are evacuated to South Africa or elsewhere in the case of long-term serious medical care being required.

*Pharmacies in Zambia-Although pharmacies are available in major towns and cities, they are not always well stocked and may not carry many of the usual drugs that expats may need. Pharmacies are generally open from Monday to Saturday, with very few operating on Sundays and none on a 24/7 basis. In the case of an emergency, expats should try pharmacies attached to hospitals or clinics.

*Health insurance in Zambia -It's essential that expats either ensure that any medical insurance cover from outside Zambia covers living in the country, or that medical insurance is taken out quickly on arrival. It is important that this medical plan is comprehensive, including cover for medical evacuations. This should be an essential part of contract negotiations when moving to Zambia.

*Health hazards in Zambia-Zambia is in the malaria belt and also a TB zone, so a doctor should be consulted before departure about appropriate medication. An essential purchase in Zambia is a mosquito net. These nets cover the bed at night and have a significant effect in reducing mosquito bites. Cholera and dysentery are also common, particularly during the rainy season. Zambia also has a very high prevalence of HIV/AIDS.