Twelve point seven billion Zambian Kwacha, at current dollar exchange rate, translates into US$2.54 million. For a small and poorly managed economy as Zambia, the amount spent in 2009 is substantial and if well appropriated to the health sector, unfathomable improvements to our health sector could be achieved.
It is such a shame that plural politics came with huge downside with it such as mismanagement, financial impropriety and abuse of office. A parallel can be drawn between UNIP and MMD leadership inasmuch as management of public funds is concerned. While MMD leadership chooses to spend hard-earned dollars on rushing sick MMD party politicians to countries such as the UK, South Africa and India etc for specialized treatment, UNIP had a sense of compunction to have its leaders including Super Ken treated at the UTH.
What is baffling to the majority of Zambians is the myopic tendencies and belief that sick politicians will receive miracle treatment when treated in the mentioned technologically better-off countries. While it is true that these countries medically better equipped, it is important to understand why they have technology. Simply put, these countries have invested time and financial resources to attain the levels of development that they have. This goes without saying that Zambia can make sensible advancement in the field of medical technology by making purposeful investment in the health sector. Therefore, the ZMK12.7 billion the government spent on getting its politicians treated in foreign countries did not add value to our health sector but contributed to bettering health institutions of the mentioned foreign countries. If there were visionary planning in place, the government could have invested the US$2.54 million on acquiring advanced medical equipment for the UTH. The government could put a purposeful programme could be in place such that a similar or equal amount could be annually invested in the health sector over a period of five years. This approach will help raise the level of medical technology at the UTH.
It is important to appreciate that improvements in the health sector must be coupled with measures to address the well-being of medical professionals. A large number of Zambians doctors are now based in foreign countries where their knowledge and experiences are valued most. The lack/or the absence of attractive conditions of service has caused serious brain drain in Zambia to extent that the doctor to patient ratio was at a appalling low of 12 doctors per 100,000 patients by 2006. The health sector is in serious need of investment if the leadership can commitment itself to ensure sector is adequately equipped. Therefore, flying politicians to foreign countries for specialized treatment will not help Zambia in the least. Such actions by the leadership are extremely detrimental to the development of Zambia's health sector.
