By Cecilia Chiluba,Zambia,Lusaka
Zambia is expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aimed at strengthening the country’s health system while supporting its transition towards self-reliance by 2030.
Once signed, implementation of the agreement will be overseen by a Joint Health Cooperation Steering Committee.
Under the partnership, Co-investment will be linked to performance, with Zambia’s annual health expenditure projected to increase from approximately US$628 million in 2026 to over US$1 billion by 2030.
The proposed agreement is expected to sustain and expand access to essential health services, including HIV, Tuberculosis, Malaria, and Maternal and Child Health services.
The MoU will support HIV prevention and treatment, malaria and tuberculosis control, global health security, and cross-cutting health system strengthening. Planned policy reforms include expanding access to HIV prevention services and formally integrating community health workers into the national health workforce.
According to a statement issued by Ministry of Health, the partnership will also enhance disease surveillance, laboratory capacity, and health data systems, while progressively transitioning key health system functions—such as supply chains, health workforce management, and digital systems—to full Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) ownership by 2030.
The MoU is expected to strengthen Zambia’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to disease outbreaks through improved surveillance systems, the training of over 100 field epidemiologists, and strengthened rapid response mechanisms. Over time, Zambia is projected to increase domestic investment as external funding gradually reduces.
Ministry of Health Principal Public Relations Officer and Spokesperson Georgia Chimombo said increased domestic financing for health is expected to underpin long-term sustainability.
Chimombo said key areas of cooperation include disease surveillance and outbreak response, laboratory systems, medicines and medical supplies, frontline health workers, and human resources for health.
She explained that under the proposed agreement, the Zambian Government is expected to maintain a minimum of 40,000 front-line health workers, including doctors, nurses, laboratory professionals, pharmacists, epidemiologists, and community health workers.
“The proposed MoU outlines a performance-based, co-financed partnership. Central to this collaboration is a shared commitment to sustaining essential health services, strengthening national systems, and ensuring that health gains made over the years are protected and expanded,” she stated.
She added that the proposed partnership envisions a nationally connected network of high-quality laboratories.
“Support will focus on laboratory commodities, skilled personnel, Republic of Zambia biosafety, and sample transportation systems, with Zambia steadily increasing its financial contribution through 2030,” Chimombo added.
Chimombo further explained that the partnership prioritizes a secure, efficient, and transparent supply chain for medicines and medical supplies, leveraging national systems such as the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).
“Investments will support procurement, storage, distribution, and tracking of essential health commodities nationwide,” she said.
The partnership will support integrated and interoperable health information systems, including electronic medical records, laboratory information systems, logistics management platforms, disease surveillance tools, and a national health data warehouse to improve evidence-based decision-making.
