Dr. Mulemwa Lubinda, a Beit Trust Scholar and Emergency Medicine Registrar at the University of Cape Town, who holds certification in Implementation Science from the University of Washington, was privileged to speak at the 3rd Biomedical Engineering Symposium held in Lusaka on June 26, 2025. The symposium, themed “Bridging the Gap: Biomedical Engineering Solutions for Zambia’s Healthcare Challenges,” brought together policymakers, healthcare professionals, and global health partners to discuss strategies for enhancing Zambia’s healthcare system.

In his presentation, titled “Emergency Care Systems: A Systems-Based Approach to Saving Lives,” Dr. Lubinda advocated for the urgent development of an Emergency Care System in Zambia. He referenced the World Health Assembly Resolution 72.16 and Sustainable Development Goal 3.8, which champion universal access to essential health services, including emergency care. He emphasised that emergency care is an integral aspect of a safe, equitable, sustainable and resilient health system.

“From trauma and childbirth to cholera outbreaks and pandemics such as COVID-19,” he remarked, “timely emergency response is crucial in determining whether patients survive or suffer preventable harm.”

Dr. Lubinda outlined how an evidence-based, systems-oriented approach encompassing governance, education, infrastructure, and data can transform fragmented responses into coordinated, life-saving care pathways. He concluded with a call to action for health workers, policymakers and allied partners to collaborate in ensuring that timely, life-saving care is accessible to those in need when they require it most.