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The United States (U.S) government has announced a significant expansion of Zambia’s SmartCare Pro electronic health record system, aiming to transition an additional 1,199 health facilities to the platform by the end of September 2025.
US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, revealed that the SmartCare Pro system had already been successfully deployed in 406 health facilities across Lusaka, Copperbelt and Southern provinces.
Gonzales made these remarks during the “Advancing SmartCare: Sustainability and Growth” celebration held at Ciela Resort in Chongwe on Wednesday.
He noted that the 100 percent transition of all existing SmartCare sites to the current Pro version had achieved the target of 400 sites in the 2024 fiscal year.
Originally designed to support HIV care, SmartCare had now expanded to encompass all areas of healthcare service delivery, benefiting the broader population.
“This advancement is a testament to our collaborative efforts to combat HIV and enhance the overall health system,” Gonzales said.
He listed the US government’s role in developing and implementing key information systems in Zambia’s health sector, including SmartCare, laboratory information systems, commodities management information systems, electronic logistics management information systems and human resource information systems.
Gonzales highlighted the substantial investment made by the United States in Zambia’s health information systems since 2005, amounting to over $300 million.
He underscored the critical role of information and communication technology in improving healthcare delivery.
Additionally, Gonzales reiterated that since 2004, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) had been the largest donor to Zambia’s HIV response, contributing approximately US$6.7 billion.
Read More: Zambia to digitise 1,000 health facilities by year-end under smart care project
This funding has been instrumental in saving lives, preventing new HIV infections, and strengthening health systems to ensure that Zambians receive high-quality health services.
Health Minister, Dr. Elijah Muchima, praised the successful deployment of the SmartCare Pro system in 400 sites, with plans to expand to an additional 600 sites this year, calling it a groundbreaking achievement.
“SmartCare is enhancing how we manage health information, enabling us to provide better, faster, and more accurate care to our citizens,” Muchima stated.
Smart Zambia National Coordinator, Percy Chinyama, added that the government was not only investing in deploying the system nationwide but also in building the capacity of healthcare professionals to ensure effective use of the tools.
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