By Karen Nyeraurombo
Shepherd Humure from the Health Professions Authority of Zimbabwe (HPA) has called for the amending of the Public Health Act especially in the appointment of administrative posts.
Speaking during oral evidence presentation in Parliament Humure said “The Public Health Act should be amended particularly in the appointment of the administrative posts.
“If we go to rural health areas today, you will find a lot of task shifting where a nurse is doing those common duties normally done by a doctor, so we are saying we should promote that concept as well when it comes to the appointment of people like district health officers and not limit it to one profession only.
“Zimbabwe must prepare itself by making sure its health statutes such as Public Health Act are changed from 1924 perception to reflect these emerging international trends.
“The evolution of health robotics emphasizes the need to respond to new technology. Health robotics involves machines, manufacturers, data analytics, computer specialists, health specialist and any of the players in such a team deserve the appointment to a health administrative position.
“In this setup even computer programmers deserve to be appointed in the administrative because they will be driving the technology and the robotics.
“Information gleaned from other developing countries shows that Zimbabwe needs to leapfrog and catch up with international trends with regards to administrative appointments in the public health sector.
“In transnational healthcare setups like these, no one should hold a monopoly to knowledge and appointment to administrative positions hence the rationale to change the Public Health Act so that it reflects the reality on the ground.
“The starting point for Zimbabwe is to remove discriminating provisions in the Public Health Act so that all political players in the public health care delivery system are given equal opportunities for administrative appointments.’’
