Health Minister Irate Over Expired Drugs

Health Minister Jonas Chanda has reportedly expressed his frustration over stockpiles of essential medicines that have been allowed to expire in warehouses owned by the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).

Mr Chanda has ordered that the expired drugs be destroyed, explaining that there is a risk the medicines could be sold on the black market, causing harm to unsuspecting Zambians. 

The minister appeared visibly disappointed yesterday during a visit to the main ZAMMSA warehouse in Lusaka. He has given management a 24 hour ultimatum to provide him with a full list of the expired drugs, as well as cost estimates.

He described the incident as ‘regrettable’ but expressed confidence that newly rebranded ZAMMSA - formerly Medical Stores Limited - would soon bring an end to such wastage.

Meanwhile, opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema went further in his condemnation, arguing that the waste was unacceptable during a time of global pandemic.

He wrote on Facebook:

“Can you imagine at a time people are getting medical prescriptions and dying in hospitals and clinics due to lack of essential drugs, a chunk imported at huge expense from taxpayers money was expiring in storage facilities. Clearly no one is in charge of these cadres holding positions in government.” 

Health Minister Jonas Chanda has ordered for the expired drugs at ZAMMSA’s warehouse to be destroyed.