Medicines Research and Access Platform Medrap Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka, has called on the Ministry of Health to change its oversight strategy at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency ZAMMSA.
Mr. Liyoka says the recent incident where 61 containers of medical supplies were diverted to a private warehouse in Lusaka, revealed the poor oversight the Ministry of Health has on ZAMMSA.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, Mr. Liyoka has implored the new Minister of Health Elijah Muchima to formulate an oversight strategy that will enable the ministry have full knowledge on the transportation of medical supplies.
“Unfortunately the diverted medicines in the 61 containers will already have a short shelf life due to expiration”, said Mr. Liyoka.
He has called on government to ensure such a situation does not re-occur, saying that a glitch in the transportation of medical supplies has the potential to disrupt the supply chain of medicines across the country.
By Angel Kasabo
