22/01/2026
GOVT CONSIDERING RECRUITING ADDITIONAL 2,500 HEALTH WORKERS THIS YEAR
By Cecilia Zyambo
Health Minister Elijah Muchima has disclosed that government may recruit an additional 2,500 health workers, mostly doctors, this year, using external financing in a bid to reach the World Health Organization โWHOโ recommended ratio of 1 doctor to 1,000 patients.
Dr. Muchima has told Phoenix News that the Ministry is working with the main doctors' association and Public Service Commission to promote and recruit doctors and other health workers who have been in the database up to 2023.
He says government is determined to reduce the gap between patients and health workers, as evidenced from the over 20,000 health professionals who have been employed in the past four years.
Dr. Muchima has highlighted that the growing population necessitates the recruitment of more health workers, and government is exploring external financing options to support the initiative.
PHOENIX NEWS
RECRUITMENT FREE FOR ALL HEALTH WORKERS TO APPLY, NO DATABASE WILL BE USED - MOH Muchima. ๐จ๐พโโ๏ธ
Health workers who may have lost hope in the ongoing recruitment exercise because they were not able to apply, have been given a glimmer of hope as the Ministry of Health have done away with the old database to ensure fairness, transparency and efficiency.
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This allows every healthy worker to apply and stand a chance of being part of the 2000 who will be recruited once the exercise is over.
The decision comes after repeated concerns from the Resident Doctors Association of Zambia (RDAZ), which said past recruitment exercises relied on outdated records, leaving many qualified doctors out while allowing unregistered personnel to be employed.
The association also expressed frustration that previous processes lacked transparency and proper consultation with professional bodies.
But Minister of Health Elijah Muchima said Government is determined to fix these issues and start the recruitment process afresh.
Speaking when RDAZ paid a courtesy call on him today, Dr Muchima stated that while government is eager to expand the health workforce, financial realities including commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) require a phased approach.
โWe are determined to recruit efficiently while ensuring fairness. This new system will reflect merit and professionalism,โ he said.
โWhile government may want to hire as many doctors as needed, financial limitations such as repaying loans to the IMF incurred by the previous government make this difficult."
The minister said the recruitment of 2,000 health workers this year will make it 22,000 health workers employed by the UPND administration with further recruitment planned in subsequent years to gradually address the backlog of unemployed doctors.
He further emphasised that the process will involve professional bodies, prioritise qualified candidates and ensure transparency at every stage.
Meanwhile, RDAZ president Paul Chibwe welcomed the move, saying it restores confidence among medical professionals.
โMany of our members felt left out in previous recruitments so starting afresh ensures fairness, accountability, and proper representation,โ he said.
Dr Chibwe further called for volunteers and new recruits to be treated fairly and assured of support, stating that doctors dedicate their lives to saving others hence, they deserve clarity, recognition, and proper compensation.
By Sharon Zulu
Pictures by Crown TV
Kalemba December 18,
