K224 Million Invested in CT & MRI Machines for Seven Hospitals Across the Country

The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) has commissioned a major upgrade to Zambia’s public health sector with the rollout of seven CT scanners and one Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine across seven public hospitals. 

The equipment, valued at over 224 million kwacha, has been installed at Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, University Teaching Hospital, Ndola Teaching Hospital, Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital, Kitwe Teaching Hospital, Solwezi General Hospital, and Livingstone Teaching Hospital.

Speaking at the launch, Health Minister Elijah Muchima said the equipment will significantly reduce NHIMA’s financial burden of referring patients to private institutions for diagnostic services.

“We believe every Zambian from every background or location deserves access to quality healthcare without financial barriers. I am therefore delighted that today we are launching seven computerised tomography scanner machines for seven public hospitals and one magnetic resonance imaging machine,” the Health Minister added.

NHIMA Director General Michael Njapau told reporters, “Even the private sector health facilities will find it hard to compete with the quality of images from these machines.”

Copperbelt Provincial Health Director Dr. Charles Mwinuna urged hospitals to safeguard the new equipment “Always pay attention, do not leave it to the technicians alone; take steps to manage this equipment yourself,” he advised.

The move marks a significant step in improving nationwide access to medical diagnostics and advanced health technology.