Transforming Primary Care in Zambia
In Zambia, addressing a health concern can involve multiple hospital visits—one for a check-up, another for a chronic condition, and sometimes more for preventive screenings. Specialists are not always immediately available, making coordination between services an important part of effective care.
For many patients, this fragmented experience can be challenging. As Dr. Nalukuyi Wanga a family medicine physician explains:
“As family physicians, we pride ourselves on continuity of care. We follow our patients over time, from the start, and stay connected to the communities we serve. That ongoing relationship is one of the most important ways we support our patients.”
Bridging the gap
Family medicine physicians help bridge this gap. They are trained to provide comprehensive, continuous care for people of all ages and conditions—managing common illnesses, chronic diseases, maternal and child health, and minor emergencies in one place. By doing so, they reduce unnecessary referrals to overburdened tertiary hospitals while keeping care local and accessible.
As of 2022, Zambia had just three doctors and 29 nurses per 10,000 people, with most specialists concentrated in urban areas while the majority of the population lives in rural communities. This shortage of broadly trained health workers meant many conditions went undetected or untreated, leading to preventable illness and deaths.
Investing in family medicine
Since 2018, Seed Global Health has worked with the Zambian government to strengthen the health system by training more family medicine physicians, including helping the University of Zambia (UNZA) create the family medicine program from the ground up—the country’s first and one of the first in Africa.
These physicians are equipped to detect, prevent, and treat the leading causes of illness and death, supporting the government’s commitment to achieve universal health coverage by 2030 in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.
This growing investment is already reflected in the program’s rapid growth and the high level of interest from the next generation of doctors. As Dr. Mpundu Makasa, head of department for Community and Family Medicine, UNZA notes, “We currently have 36 registrars in training, which is more than many programs. It really shows the level of appreciation for the program and the very high demand for it.”
Family medicine physicians provide patient-centered, evidence-based care, using their broad skill set to prevent and identify complications early, improving health outcomes.
Seed Global Health’s impact
In 2020, Seed Global Health placed two full-time family physicians at the University of Zambia (UNZA), where they served as educators, faculty, and mentors alongside local staff. Working closely together, they helped strengthen training and support the next generation of health workers.
Since then, family medicine has been included in Zambia’s National Human Resources for Health Training Plan, creating a clear career path within the public health system for graduates and reinforcing the country’s approach to primary care.
The UNZA program has enrolled over 40 students, with its first graduate in 2022 and five more since. With 36 residents currently in training, Zambia is building its first generation of family medicine physicians.
What does this look like in practice? Across Zambia, family medicine physicians are already improving how care is delivered—ensuring patients receive timely, continuous, and coordinated treatment.
As Zambia continues to invest in family medicine, it is reshaping how care is delivered by bringing services closer to communities, strengthening the health system, and ensuring more people receive the care they need when they need it.
