17 Mar 2019

Policy positions in the Ministry of Health and Wellness depend on the job effectiveness description and the qualifications, skills and competencies required per job.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Alfred Madigele said in Parliament when answering a question from MP Buti Billy of Francistown East.

Mr Madigele said the ministry currently had one nurse at salary scale E2, adding that in the past, a handful of nurses had also been appointed.

He explained that nurses were stagnant at C1 salary scale because the structure of any organisation was pyramid in shape and tended to decrease in size. Further, he stated that the policy of multiple scaling of C band positions resulted in a number of C band officers reaching the C1 ceiling rapidly.

Dr Madigele pointed out that in the ending financial year the ministry rationalised positions to create 10 D3 and 47 D4 positions to create supervisory and headship positions in upgraded facilities where C1 officers were promoted into.

He further stated that the decentralisation strategy had resulted in creation of E2 and E1 positions in the District Health Management Teams and the Job Effectiveness Descriptions for the same accommodate competition for all professions in the ministry and afford nursing cadre an opportunity to be appointed.

MP Billy wanted the minister to explain why there were no nurses at policy-making decision level of scale E2 and above.

He also wanted to know why nurses were stagnated at CI salary scale and further wanted the minister to state how government intended to resolve the issue. ENDS