ZAMMSA Quality Control Unit on 24 hour operating service

Brian Mwale-The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency -ZAMMSA- has put its quality control unit on a 24-hour operating service to enhance clearance and distribution of medicines across the country.

And Ministry of Information Director Spokesperson THABO KAWANA says the move is aimed at addressing the drugs challenge as more shipments are coming into the country and drugs being distributed.

Speaking after touring the ZAMMSA main warehouse in Lusaka , Mr. KAWANA said as drugs keep coming in, they are subjected to quality assurance before being distributed to consumers as people’s health is key.

He however says despite the drugs shortage not being as severe as is being portrayed, the demand will be fully met within the next three weeks.

Mr. KAWANA however said drugs for Tuberculosis, HIV and Malaria are adequate as there is no shortage.

He adds that government has also given health facilities the leeway to utilize up to 30-percent of their grants to procure drugs from the previous 10-percent threshold.

Mr. KAWANA said health facilities have already been funded for three months with grants.

He also noted that ZAMMSA had some challenges in procuring drugs following the shift of mandate to procure from the Ministry of Health as some legal issues needed to be sorted and that funds have been released.

And ZAMMSA Warehouse Manager ERNEST SINYINDA said the institution is moving about 1-thousand 5-hundred cartons of medicines on a daily basis to seven regional hubs across the country where they are in-turn distributing to over 2-thousand 5-hundred health facilities.

Mr. SINYINDA also revealed that ZAMMSA has put in place a water tight security system to stop pilferage of medicines.

The post ZAMMSA Quality Control Unit on 24 hour operating service appeared first on .