Separate public hospital units for officials are not reform but 'class apartheid

This development is being criticized as undermining the original intent, creating a two-tiered healthcare system where ordinary citizens face long queues and understaffed wards, while officials receive faster, better-resourced care. Ndumba Kamwanyah, a public policy expert, argues that while upgrading hospitals is necessary, the selective and rapid improvement of facilities for officials, while general wards remain neglected, highlights a disparity in empathy and sensitivity. Kamwanyah states that healthcare is a fundamental right and should not be tiered based on political status, likening the situation to a modern-day form of apartheid due to its inherent separation based on status.

He acknowledges arguments for security and logistical reasons for separate units but contends that these should not compromise equity. Kamwanyah emphasizes that true reform distributes excellence to all citizens, ensuring dignified care regardless of status, and that the current approach risks normalizing inequality and eroding public trust.