Gerald Kampanikiza, News Reporter
Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima has given Nkhata-Bay District credit its preparedness to embrace reforms that are crucial for councils to boost revenue collection while at the same time maximizing service delivery to the people.
Dr Chilima said this on Thursday, May 26th, 2022 after visiting the district to engage the district council on reforms.
“At the district hospital, the council has introduced a paying ward with out-patient and Admission department and through the paying service, the council has since generated about K40 million which has been crucial in complimenting funding in terms of procurement of drugs, fuel, and paying of utility bills,” Chilima said.
He further said that the council has also introduced a restaurant within the paying ward and highlighted that the paying ward initiative does not in anyway disrupt the free services that the hospital provides as such facilities are meant for people who can afford to pay.
“As we speak, the district council deserves our commendation for their reforms in the health sector and what we saw at the District Hospital is excellent,” he said.
According to the Vice President, of all the 30 councils that he has visited so far in this first phase, none has rolled out such a reform with clarity and visible impact on the ground.
“To use the Hon. Minister Professor Blessings Chisinga’s description, “what Nkhata-Bay is doing with its reforms in the health sector is an excellent example of how Reforms must be conceptualised,” Chilima explained.
