Zambia: The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has assured the people of the nation about the the drug stock availability. The authorities revealed that the country has improved significantly standing at 60 percent.
ZAMMSA Director General Victor Nyasulu says the drug stock availability was at 40 percent as by mid – 2023. The availability has shown significant improvement of 60 percent by broadcast time.
According to him, the reason for this improvement is the ZAMMSA collaboration with their cooperating partners. Nyasulu states that ZAMMSA is also mopping up exercise of ex stock from local suppliers.
Afterwards, the Director General says, this will help the agency reach the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended Medicines and Medical Supplies. (MMS stock availability of 70 percent.)
Director General made these remarks during a press briefing held at ZAMMSA offices in Lusaka on Saturday.
“This improvement has been achieved with support from the United Nations agencies such as UNICEF and UNFPA, G to G such as the recent bulk procurement done with the Unified Procurement Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt among others,” Nyasulu noted.
DG Nyasulu was happy to announce that the organization has been working around the clock to ensure that the challenges faced in the drug supply are addressed.
“In its quest to ensure the quality and safety of the health communities ZAMMSA has highlighted visual inspection and testing of key commodities in collaboration with Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA).“ he said.
Nyasulu stated that ZAMMSA has also highlighted monitoring systems of storage conditions all at warehouse. The monitoring has been ongoing for the complete year. He added that ZAMMSA warehouse recorded high compliance levels.
He noted that the restructuring and streamlining of the organization have commenced with the goal of aligning human capital to refine the mandate of the agency as stipulated in the ZAMMSA Act 2019, adding that this has been done to enhance efficiency in operations.