Bajila urges Parliament to judge health reforms by clinic services, not Bills passed
By Staff Writer, Parliamentary Watch
MP Bajila has urged Parliament to use the proposed health legislation programme to secure affordable care, warning that passing Bills alone would not ensure patients receive treatment.
Speaking during the National Assembly sitting on Wednesday, 7 October 2026, Bajila said legislators should scrutinise whether planned reforms would improve access, quality and protection from healthcare costs.
“For healthcare, we should measure not only Bills passed but patients treated, medicines available, health workers deployed and financial hardships reduced,” Bajila said.
The MP was responding to the State of the Nation Address delivered on 29 September, which, according to the debate, outlined six proposed health-related Bills covering healthcare provision, family planning, medicines, medical research, food safety and mental health.
Bajila called on MPs to press the Executive to bring the legislation before the House and consider the proposals as connected parts of the health system.
On the proposed healthcare provision legislation, Bajila said government should establish a basis for affordable health insurance.
The MP also called for mental healthcare to become part of routine primary care rather than remain neglected or misunderstood.
“If we are serious about universal health care, mental health must become part of our routine primary health care,” Bajila said.
Bajila warned that reducing professional and institutional regulatory fees without replacing the income could weaken the ability of health regulators to inspect facilities. That was a concern raised in debate, not an outcome established by the House.
“The ultimate test is what happens when a patient walks through the door of a clinic. Is there a nurse, a doctor and are there medicines? Is the facility functional?” Bajila asked.
