Zambia Expands SmartCare Pro to 400 Health Facilities, Plans Major Rollout
The Zambian government has successfully expanded the SmartCare Pro system to 400 health facilities nationwide, marking a significant milestone in modernizing the country’s healthcare system.
The announcement was made during the Advancing SmartCare Sustainability and Growth Celebrations in Lusaka.
Minister of Health, Elijah Muchima, highlighted the importance of SmartCare Pro in transforming healthcare delivery, describing it as a “critical investment” in the nation’s future.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister, the Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination, George Sinyangwe, emphasized that the government is committed to further extending the SmartCare Pro system to an additional 600 sites this year.
“This expansion represents a groundbreaking achievement in our health sector. The SmartCare Pro system not only enhances the management of health information but also enables faster, more accurate care while ensuring secure access to vital health data for providers and decision-makers,” Dr. Muchima stated.
The Minister reiterated the government’s dedication to empowering health professionals in the digital health landscape, ensuring they are equipped to meet future healthcare demands.
He also called on cooperating partners to collaborate on strategies to address challenges such as load shedding and infrastructural issues, which could impact the effectiveness of the digital health system.
Percy Chinyama, National Coordinator of the eGovernment Division at the Smart Zambia Institute, praised the long-term benefits of SmartCare Pro, noting that the system replaces traditional, distributed databases with a real-time, centralized solution.
United States Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, also commended the digitization of patient records, describing it as a milestone that aligns with Zambia’s National Digital Health Strategy (2022-2026).
He stressed that a sustainable, country-owned data system is crucial for timely access to quality health data, which aids decision-making across the health sector.
Ambassador Gonzales reaffirmed the U.S. government’s commitment to supporting sustainable systems that protect the health of Zambian citizens.
