The Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) has strongly condemned the theft and mismanagement of medicines and medical supplies in the country, warning that such malpractice not only endangers patient safety but also erodes public trust in the healthcare system.
The call comes in the wake of recent media reports exposing widespread irregularities in the pharmaceutical supply chain, irregularities that have prompted the United States government to suspend $50 million in medical aid to Zambia.
“This is a serious development that underscores the urgent need for robust accountability mechanisms across the pharmaceutical supply chain,” said PSZ President Keegan Mwape in a statement issued to RCV News in Lusaka today.
Mr. Mwape acknowledged ongoing discussions around the forensic audit conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) on the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), but noted that PSZ has not yet been granted access to the audit report.
This, he said, limits the Society’s ability to provide informed and technical input on the necessary reforms.
He urged relevant authorities to make the audit findings available to professional bodies such as PSZ to enable meaningful contributions to the reform process.
Mr. Mwape also raised concerns over persistent leadership instability at ZAMMSA, highlighting a troubling pattern of senior management changes every six months, often carried out without transparency or merit.
“The Ministry of Health should immediately appoint a qualified pharmaceutical supply chain expert as ZAMMSA’s substantive Director General and establish a functional board to provide effective governance oversight,” said Mr. Mwape.
He further called on Health Minister, Elijah Muchima, to expedite the appointment of boards for both the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ), emphasizing the critical roles these institutions play in upholding public health standards.
By Margaret Mwanza
