ZAMMSA Expresses Ambition to Revive Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Industry
The Director General of the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA), Mr. Victor Nyasulu, has articulated the agency’s ambition to venture into local pharmaceutical manufacturing, aiming to bolster the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
Addressing attendees at a ZAMMSA and Cooperating Partners meeting held at the agency’s headquarters, Mr. Nyasulu underscored the imperative to commence local drug manufacturing to fulfill ZAMMSA’s mandate comprehensively.
He emphasized the need to reclaim the agency’s historical role in manufacturing medicines, citing it as an integral part of ZAMMSA’s mission.
The move aligns with the ZAMMSA Act Number 9 of 2019, which grants the agency the authority to repackage and re-label medicines and medical supplies alongside its core functions of procurement, storage, and distribution.
Mr. Nyasulu highlighted that prior to 1990, when ZAMMSA operated as Medical Stores Limited, drug manufacturing was part of its portfolio.
The meeting, which marked the first gathering of ZAMMSA and its cooperating partners for the year, delved into various issues pertinent to the agency, including financing, warehousing, distribution, and the overall medicines and medical supply chain in Zambia.
Of particular focus was the operationalization of the Medicines and Medical Supplies Fund (MMSF), aimed at streamlining procurement processes within ZAMMSA.
Cooperating partners emphasized the importance of transparency, accountability, and an independent governance structure within ZAMMSA to effectively implement the MMSF and attract continued donor support.
The meeting saw participation from a plethora of cooperating partners, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the World Food Programme (WFP), the World Bank, the Churches Association of Zambia (CHAZ), and various United Nations agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, and UNDP, among others.
Bradley Chingobe, Senior Manager of Corporate Communications at ZAMMSA, expressed optimism about the agency’s ambition to revitalize local pharmaceutical manufacturing, seeing it as a step towards greater self-reliance and sustainability in meeting Zambia’s healthcare needs.
