- Zambia is experiencing severe shortages of drugs in health facilities across the country according to the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA). It has implored the government to take immediate steps to avoid a health disaster.
Zambia is experiencing severe shortages of drugs in health facilities across the country according to the Zambia Medical Association (ZMA). It has implored the government to take immediate steps to avoid a health disaster.
According to ZMA General Secretary Roy Tolopu the current stock level of 53.1 percent in health facilities in the country falls way below the World Health Organization (WHO). The recommended stock volume availability recommended by WHO is 70 to 80 percent. He urged the government to consider declaring a state of emergency in the health sector and invoke disaster management provisions in the procurement of essential drugs and allied substances to avoid loss of lives.
Dr. Tolopu noted that a country like Zambia cannot afford to lose lives which will be counterproductive to the economic gains made by the government, especially in the last year.
There have been reports for several months about Zambia’s public hospitals afflicted by a critical shortage of essential drugs and other medical supplies. The government has blamed an “overhaul of the drug procurement system for the predicament.
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The Association has meanwhile appealed to law and policymakers and responsible officers in the line ministry to de-politicize the health sector and take quick action.
