Zambia deploys digital health systems in hospitals

Zambia has begun implementing Digital Health Systems in hospitals around the country. The project aims to digitise health services while also ensuring the availability of drugs.

 Felix Mutati, Zambia's minister of science and technology, announced that hospitals around the country will now be able to provide health care making use of digital tools to reach as many citizens as possible. 

He spoke about during the launch of the Digital Health Systems Project in Gwembe, Southern Province. 

 Mutati said his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, is now using modern technology to track and trace pharmaceuticals from procurement to patient use.

 “The pilferage of drugs will soon be a thing of the past,” the minister assured.

The minister of health, Elijah Muchina, also denounced the theft of pharmaceuticals from healthcare facilities.

“Those stealing medicines deprive Zambians of the medicines they need for their health,” Muchina said.

In a related move, the government is raising funding to outfit all health care facilities with solar electricity. 

This comes while the Southern African country is experiencing power disruptions as a result of massive load shedding caused by the country's overreliance on hydroelectric power generated by Lake Kariba.