The Zambian Medical Association – ZMA Secretary General Dr. Roy Tolopu has disclosed that administrative challenges and the lack of timely financing are the key contributors to the narrative of drug shortages being created in some hospitals and clinics.
Dr. Tolopu explained that in Zambia, there is a list of essential drugs based on the consumption pattern, the more certain drugs are being prescribed, the higher the demand for that particular drug and so these group of drugs are prioritized and included on the list of essential drugs.
He stated that sometimes patients are prescribed drugs that are not in the hospital at that particular time, hence the narrative of drug shortage is created. The ZMA Secretary General explained that people need to appreciate that drugs, just like any other held stock are supplied, consumed and finish.
In an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT Dr. Tolopu stated that the challenge has been having an adequate budget on paper which does not translate to what is on the ground, money allocated but not being disbursed to what is in the budget.
He however stated that the current government has pledged to disburse what is budgeted which is the right step towards the procurement of adequate drugs and avoiding shortages.
Dr. Tolopu explained that the other challenge with availability of drugs is administration. We have heard of cases were you have drugs expiring at storage centers while clinics and hospitals in some districts have drug shortages, He re-iterated that it is the duty of the administration to make sure that the medicines are distributed on time to the right intended end user.
He stated that it should be made clear that there is a constant release of finances which are meant to buy essential medicines for the country and to make sure that there is no deformity in Administrative process so that the end user does not to suffer.
Dr. Tolopu further added that they should be proper control processes to ensure that the right amount of medicine goes to an intended user in the right proportion to cater for that particular institution.
He said that there is need for whatever government comes in to power to consider the Abuja declaration that the Zambian doctors are part of which states that ” every national budget should set aside 15% of the national budget to go the ministry of health”.
He said that health services are quite expensive and a wealthy nation status can not be attained when economic drivers – the people – are not healthy. ZMA has appreciated the amount of money allocated to the ministry of health in the current 2022 budget though is short of the recommendation as per declaration that was made in Abuja, Nigeria.
