As ZAMMSA announces receipt of the second consignment of 7,050 Health Centre Kits from Mission Pharma of India.
Lusaka, Oct. 1 [Digest] – The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has announced that it has received the second consignment of 7,050 Health Centre Kits from Mission Pharma of India, confirming earlier reports that politics frustrated ZAMMSA procurement of essential medicines.
Also Read: Hichilema must be commended for heeding Dr. Chilufya’s counsel in the health sector!
Earlier this year, ZAMMSA received the first consignment of 7,050 health Centre Kits aimed at addressing the challenge of shortage of medicines in public health facilities across the country.
Addressing the media, ZAMMSA Public Relations Officer, Enoch Lusoke, said the distribution of the kits was scheduled to commence within a week.
“The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) is pleased to announce the receipt of the second consignment of 7,050 Health Centre Kits. This underscores our ongoing commitment to maintaining a steady supply of medicines and medical supplies in all public health institutions!”
ZAMMSA Board Chairperson, Dr. Anna Chifungula, recently echoed former Health Minister, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya’s message, urging the new dawn government to abandon its cruel state of denial and deal with the drugs crisis immediately.
“For how long will the persistent drug shortages be ignored by Government; is life as sacred under this UPND regime which seems obsessed with political point-scoring? The sanctity of life is inviolable under any circumstances and I therefore urge government to abandon their cruel state of denial and deal with the drugs crisis immediately,” Dr. Chitalu Chilufya lamented, dismissing Government’s official position on the issue.
In agreeing with the former Health Minister, the ZAMMSA Board Chairperson revealed that Zambia suffered from critical and persistent shortage of essential medicines and other medical supplies because of political interference in the procurement process.
ZAMMSA equally revealed that the report on the persistent shortage of drugs in hospitals by the Parliamentary Committee which was constituted by the Speaker of the National Assembly was a good report.
The Minister of Health, Hon. Sylvia Masebo, denounced the report because she was at the centre of the scandal. Dr. Anna Chifungula emphasized that the agency was not allowed to procure medicines and other medical supplies from suppliers which were considered not be in good standing with the new dawn administration.
Meanwhile ZAMMSA equally dismissed media reports that the Honeybee drugs that were distributed in some parts of the country were expired.
Also Read: Dr. Chilufya urges Govt to implement the One Health Approach.
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