Zambian Delegation Arrives in Egypt for Pre-Inspection of Bulk Medicines

Cairo, September 25, 2023 – A delegation from the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has arrived in Egypt to initiate the pre-inspection process for medicines and medical supplies to be procured from Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority (UPA).

In a statement issued by Bradley Chingobe, Senior Manager of Public Relations, the team, led by Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, ZAMMSA Board Vice Chairman and Director of Clinical and Diagnostics at the Ministry of Health, is in Egypt to ensure that the medicines destined for Zambia adhere to the contractual obligations outlined in the agreement between the two governments.

The first stop for the team was the Zambian Embassy in Cairo, where they paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Major General Topply Lubaya, the Head of the mission. Ambassador Lubaya expressed confidence in the quality of medicines produced in Egypt, emphasizing how it would significantly enhance the availability of medicines in Zambia. He urged the visiting delegation to pay utmost attention to the manufacturing and expiry dates of the medicines to maintain their efficacy.

Dr. Lishimpi, the leader of the Zambian delegation, reiterated that ZAMMSA is committed to ensuring that the procurement of essential medicines undergoes a timely, cost-effective, and quality assurance process. He also expressed gratitude to the Zambian Ambassador to Egypt, Ambassador Lubaya, for his pivotal role in facilitating the contract between the Unified Procurement Authority (UPA) of Egypt and the Zambian government.

This team will visit various manufacturers to test and verify whether the medicines meet the required standards. It is the first of three teams that will travel to Egypt to conduct pre-inspections.