LUSAKA – The Centre for Trade Policy and Development (CTPD) has cautioned that recruiting additional health workers outside the approved national budget could place increased pressure on Zambia's public finances, despite the potential benefits for the healthcare sector.
Speaking in an interview with Phoenix News, CTPD Public Finance Researcher Robinson Nakambo said the continued recruitment of volunteer nurses through presidential directives could help reduce unemployment among health professionals and address staffing shortages in health facilities.
However, Mr. Nakambo warned that implementing recruitments without prior fiscal planning could have significant implications for the national budget.
He explained that financing unbudgeted recruitments may require the Government to reallocate funds from other priority sectors to meet the increased public sector wage bill.
Mr. Nakambo was commenting on recent directives by President Hakainde Hichilema to recruit volunteer nurses during campaign rallies in Isoka, Mbala and Kasempa, despite the Civil Service Commission already conducting the recruitment of 2,600 health workers across various medical specialisations.
According to the CTPD researcher, while expanding the health workforce is important for improving healthcare delivery, such recruitment exercises should be supported by adequate budgetary provisions and long-term fiscal planning.
He urged the Government to ensure that future recruitment programmes are incorporated into the national budget to avoid emergency resource mobilisation that could affect funding for other essential public services.
Mr. Nakambo added that prudent fiscal planning remains critical to maintaining sustainable public finances while addressing Zambia's growing healthcare needs.
Source: Phoenix News