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Health Minister, Sylvia Masebo, has succumbed to pressure by the health bodies and apologized for calling them ‘thieves’.
Masebo had in the past two days received condemnation for accusing medical personnel of championing pilferage of medical supplies in the country.
She said, during a gathering of Resident Doctors Association (RDA) at the Annual General Assembly (AGM) and conference in Kitwe on Saturday, that since her remarks had been blown out of proportion, she had no choice but to say ‘sorry’.
“Let me make the matter straight, media reports going around that I referred to all health personnel as thieves are not true, I have no option but to apologize to the medical profession” Masebo said.
She, however, insisted that medicine pilferage was rampant in health institutions but cannot be irresponsible as to brand all health practitioners as thieves.
Read more : Msoni of All People’s Congress asks Health Minister to withdraw statement labeling medics as ‘thieves’
Masebo said her Ministry was determined to dismantle arrears which was in excess of K200 million owed to doctors as part of moves geared to motivate medical personnel.
RDA president, Mulushi Mpande, said it was wrong for the Minister to brand doctors who only deal with prescriptions as thieves.
“Honourable Minister, doctors only deal with prescriptions, they do not handle purchasing and distribution, we are not thieves,” Mpande said.
He said the association would continue working with the government in rooting out corruption in the health sector because, the vice erode confidence in the health sector.
“Pilferage and corruption erode confidence in the health sector, we are going to work with the Government to stamp out corruption in the health sector,” Mpande said.
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