PRISCILLA MWILA
Lusaka
HEALTHCARE Co-operating Partners Group has hailed Government for increasing domestic funding to the health sector from K23 billion in 2025 to K26 billion this year.
Group chairperson Anna Holmstrom says the increase has strengthened availability of essential medicines in health facilities, reducing stock-outs and ensuring patients access treatment without interruption.
Ms Holmstrom said this yesterday during the launch of the 2027-2029 medium-term budget plan and 2027 budget.
The event was held under the theme: ‘Investing in building a more resilient, equitable and people-centred health system for all Zambians’.
Ms Holmstrom said commissioning of 51 medical oxygen plants nationwide resulted in stability in intensive care, theatre, and neonatal units.
“On a positive note, funding specifically ring-fenced for essential drugs and medical supplies saw a 30 percent increase, rising from K4.9 billion to K6.4 billion, demonstrating a clear effort to protect our commodity pipelines,” she said.
Ms Holmstrom said the full construction and commissioning of 111 new mini-hospitals and 36 new health posts is commendable.
She, however, urged Government to allocate resources to secure water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in clinics nation-wide so they can withstand the recurring shocks of El-Niño.
And Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for administration Joma Simuyi said Zambia has 97.5 per cent of people living with HIV that know their status, with 99.5 percent of those diagnosed being on treatment, while 97.4 percent of those on treatment are virally suppressed.
Mrs Simuyi said the achievement reflects a firm political commitment, strategic partnerships, and sustained investments in HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and community engagement.
She said the country has sustained 100 percent availability of vaccines, anti-retroviral medicines, antituberculosis medicines, and malaria commodities.
