The Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRAP) has urged law enforcement agencies to arrest, and prosecute individuals named in the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) forensic audit report, which exposed massive price inflation of up to 1,600% in the procurement of medicines.
MedRAP Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka, said those implicated must face the law without delay to prove their innocence in court and be held accountable.
“The arms of the law must begin arresting and prosecuting those named in the audit report and this should be done promptly,” said Mr. Liyoka.
Reacting to the audit findings, Mr. Liyoka also called on the Ministry of Health to establish proper systems and controls to avoid future scandals, advising that the ongoing recruitment process for the Executive Director at ZAMMSA be halted, arguing that it is being conducted improperly.
“Medrap is surprised that ZAMMSA continues to operate without a board of directors and a substantive Director General and this leadership vacuum is contributing to these lapses,” said Mr. Liyoka.
He stressed the need for government to urgently appoint a board to oversee the recruitment of a qualified Director General, noting that continued failure to address governance challenges at ZAMMSA could erode donor confidence.
Angel Kasabo
