The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency – ZAMMSA has refuted claims that it has entered into an agreement were it is paying 5% of value by procurement of medicines using USAID, the global fund and the UN system.
In response to the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, ZAMMSA following accusations by Zambia Must Prosper President Kelvin Bwalya Fube – KBF that government will be paying 5% for all medicines procured using the USAID system, the buying agency refuted allegations saying it was not true and that government through ZAMMSA has no such arrangement.
ZAMMSA Public Relations Manager Patricia Ndulinga maintained that government will continue procuring some of the medicines using USAID, the global fund and the UN system for the country as per ZAMMSA act no. 9of 2019, but that there is no 5% that is paid to these institutions for using their systems.
When asked why government cannot create its own system now that ZAMMSA is in place, she said ZAMMSA is in the process of strengthening her capacity to become efficient and effective government procuring agent as stipulated in the act ZPPA no. 8 of 2020 and ZAMMSA no. 9 of 2019.
She added that ZAMMSA is also enforcing policies that safeguards the internal assets through training staff in ant corruption programs. ZAMMSA which was recently formed after years of delay due to what some stakeholders say is duplication of work and roles with ZPPA as well as with ZAMRA has come under the spotlight with complaints of lack of medicines in public hospitals and clinics being reported.
Medicine manufacturing and supplies in Zambia remain a challenge as most of the drugs and medicines are imported with little to low local business participation. This situation continues to make the sector a big drainer of forex and contributing to low money circulation in the local economy.
