Govt hails Tele Doctor service launch

Government says it is committed to improving maternal and child health in the country.

Speaking during the launch of the Zamtel TeleDoctor service in Lusaka today, Community Development, Mother and Child Health Minister Emmerine Kabanshi says there is need for the country to come up with innovative ways to reach expectant mothers with crucial messages that will facilitate safe delivery for both the mother and the new born.

Ms. Kabanshi says having a way to reach out to women and children is a key to reach targets for the Millennium Development Goals number 4 and 5 in the nearest future.

She says the launch of the Teledoctor service will complement government efforts to improve maternal and new born survival in Zambia.

Ms Kabanshi states that the challenge in many remote areas has been access to qualified medical personnel and long distances women have to travel to get even the most basic advice thus the introduction of a call service centre will go a long way in alleviating some of the sufferings women go through.

And Tele Doctor Chairman Wilfred Mutale explains that the doctors who will be handling all calls are Zambian certified doctors with licences to practice in the Zambian health sector.

He points out that the service will help reduce overcrowding in hospitals and will also help facilitate coordination and referral of patients across the health sector and linking them to appropriate care.

Speaking earlier, Zamtel Chief Executive Officer Mupanga Mwanakatwe noted that Zamtel can play a major role in creating platforms through which patients and doctors are able to interact for purposes of accessing health services.

And Zambia Medical Association President Aaron Mujajati has called on the government and all stakeholders to come up with legislation that will guide and regulate this new way of delivering medical services.