By KETRA KALUNGA
AN emergency order of medicines and medical supplies has been done as a stop gap measure during the transition in the procurement process from the Ministry of Health to Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies (ZAMMSA).
Ministry of Health spokesperson, Abel Kabalo said the shortage of drugs was prompted by the shift in the procurement process which disturbed the supply chain.
Dr. Kabalo said in an interview that the emergency order has been done and the ministry is expected to receive the medicines and medical supplies from the supplier any time soon.
“The procurement of all medicines and medical supplies automatically shifted to ZAMMSA following the enactment of the ZAMMSA so the transition is what has caused the disturbance in the supply chain,” he said.
He assured that the delivery of medicines and medical supplies would be normalised with ZAMMSA taking over the procurement process. Dr. Kabalo explained that contrary to reports that the ministry is facing serious drug shortages due to hiccups in procurement, the shortage was as a result of the transition in procurement.
He was responding to reports that the country is experiencing serious shortage of drugs because of the ministry’s failure to effectively handle the procurement process.
“I need to set the record right, following the enactment of the ZAMMSA, the procurement of all medicines and medical supplies automatically shifted to ZAMMSA so basically what is happening on the ground is the transition procurement being done at MoH to ZAMMSA,” he said.
