Clinical officers in Zambia have raised concerns over heavy patient workloads, with the Clinical Officers Association of Zambia COAZ president, Dr Jones Neba, revealing that one clinical officer can attend to as many as 200 patients in a hospital setting.
Speaking during the commemoration of Clinical Officers’ Day on October 9, 2026, Dr Neba called for increased investment in the health workforce, improved working conditions and fair remuneration to enable clinical officers to provide quality healthcare.
Dr Neba said clinical officers remained a critical part of the country’s health system, providing services ranging from primary healthcare and emergency care to maternal health, anaesthesia and mental health support, particularly in communities where access to healthcare was limited.
He said heavy workloads and inadequate staffing in some health facilities placed pressure on clinical officers and affected their working conditions. Dr Neba also raised concerns over high professional licensing fees and the remuneration of clinical officers with bachelor’s degrees, saying some were receiving salaries equivalent to those of diploma holders.
He called on the Government to address these concerns through improved career progression, harmonised training and continuous professional development.
In a speech delivered on behalf of Health Minister Professor Roma Chilengi, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Donor Coordination Dr George Sinyangwe said the Government had taken note of the concerns raised by the association and would engage with relevant stakeholders to address them. Chilengi said the Ministry would continue merit-based recruitment, with a focus on primary healthcare, to reduce excessive workloads and strengthen frontline health services.
He said the Government would also strengthen specialisation and continuous professional development while promoting digital technologies and the use of health data to improve patient care and outcomes. Chilengi said clinical officers were central to achieving universal health coverage because they were often the first point of contact between communities and the health system.
He said their work in disease prevention, treatment of common conditions, emergency care and maternal and child health was essential to national development. Dr Neba urged clinical officers to embrace innovation, research and digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery, particularly in rural communities.
He said investment in the health workforce was necessary to support national development and ensure that citizens had access to quality healthcare. The commemoration was held under the theme “Advancing Healthcare Through Innovation and Excellence,” bringing together clinical officers, Ministry of Health officials and cooperating partners to recognise the contribution of the profession to Zambia’s healthcare system.
Article by Karen Ngulube
