Kanyika proposes operation fund in ZAMMSA Amendment Bill

By NATION REPORTER

PHARMACEUTICAL expert Jerome Kanyika says Zambia needs to consider adding an operation fund in the proposed Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) Amendment Bill 2024 if the current challenges at the institution are to be adequately addressed.
Cabinet has approved in principle the introduction of the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency-Amendment Bill, 2024 which seeks to amend the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency Act of 2019.
But Mr Kanyima says there is need to introduce an operation fund clause failure to which the bill will not effectively address the challenges that it is currently facing.
He has noted that financing institutions such as ZAMMSA needed to be tilted towards ensuring procurement and operations were up to date, as was the standard practice in other countries.
Mr Kanyika said once the operation fund was created through an appropriate clause, challenges such as the expiry of drugs in warehouses among other issues would be reduced.
Mr Kanyika said this was because an operation fund would enhance distribution of medicines and medical supplies on time and the process will not face hurdles.