Zambia is preparing to launch a national survey to assess how well its health system is delivering care for neurological and mental health conditions, with the World Health Organisation (WHO) providing technical support for the exercise.
The initiative comes amid growing concern over treatment gaps and limited access to psychiatric and neurological medicines, especially in rural and underserved areas.
WHO experts, including Fahmy Hanna from the organisation’s Mental Health Department, visited Zambia from 11 to 15 May to support preparations for the survey.
The mission included visits to major health facilities in Lusaka and engagements with frontline workers, pharmacists and regulators to understand stock levels, supply‑chain challenges and service‑delivery constraints.
A stakeholder workshop brought together more than 25 representatives from government, civil society and service‑user groups to help shape the survey design.
Mental health remains a major public‑health challenge in Zambia where access to specialised services is uneven and many patients face financial and geographic barriers to care.
Despite essential neurological and psychiatric medicines being listed on the National Essential Medicines List, availability in facilities is inconsistent, contributing to high treatment gaps for conditions such as epilepsy, depression and severe mental disorders.
The planned survey will collect nationally representative and internationally comparable data on medicine availability, affordability and system‑level bottlenecks across public, private and faith‑based facilities in six provinces.
It will also examine regulatory, financing, workforce and supply‑chain factors that influence access to care.
The findings are expected to guide policy reforms, strengthen service delivery and support Zambia’s broader efforts to improve equitable access to mental health and neurological treatment.
JN/APA