The Ministry of Health has partnered with the Ministry of Technology and Science and the Presidential Delivery Unit -PDU to digitize health services and reduce pilferage of drugs.
Technology and Science Minister, Felix Mutati, says the partnership by the three entities is aimed at providing online tracking and monitoring of drugs from procurement, through transportation to consumption.
Mr. Mutati says once the Ministry of Health is fully digitized, drugs will be monitored online and it will be easy to ascertain the amount of stock available at each health facility.
Speaking this morning during a Technical Meeting on the Assessment of Pharmaceutical Commodity Track and Trace Digital System organized by Verotrace Zambia Limited in Lusaka, Mr. Mutati said digitization will promote efficiency and transparency in the health delivery system.
He added that using digital tools, the public will be given confidence in the way the Ministry of Health is handling drugs at it’s facilities.
And Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Lishimpi, said the Ministry is fast tracking the digitization of all services to promote efficiency.
Dr. Lishimpi said digitisation is being done for medical records, human resource and procurement.
He said digitizing health services will also help in identifying levels of human resource in the Ministry.
By Eva Hatontola
