Dr Muchima Commissions Zambia’s Largest Public Diagnostic Equipment Investment
Minister of Health Dr. Elijah J. Muchima has officially commissioned advanced medical diagnostic equipment procured by the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) for seven public hospitals in Zambia.
The launch, held on August 4th at Arthur Davison Children’s Hospital in Ndola, is being hailed as a milestone in Zambia’s journey toward universal health coverage.
The equipment includes seven CT scan machines and one MRI unit, destined for University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka. The Copperbelt Province received the largest share in the first deployment phase, with future rollouts planned for all general hospitals nationwide.
“For too long, our people have endured high out-of-pocket costs and long distances to access these services from private institutions. Today, that changes,” said Dr. Muchima. “This is about saving lives and modernizing public healthcare.”
According to the minister, this is the first time Zambia has deployed high-tech diagnostic tools simultaneously to multiple public facilities using local resources. He praised NHIMA’s leadership for what he called “prudent stewardship” and reaffirmed government’s commitment to enhancing service delivery.
Dr. Muchima further disclosed that NHIMA’s membership has surged from 1 million in 2021 to over 5.3 million in 2025, signaling increased public confidence in the national health insurance scheme.
He urged beneficiary hospitals to protect and utilize the machines responsibly. “These are not ornaments. They are instruments of healing. Let them serve especially the most vulnerable.”
The launch was attended by Copperbelt Provincial Minister Elisha Matambo, Presidential Health Advisor Prof. Roma Chilengi, NHIMA Director General Michael Njapau, and other senior government officials.
