TOP STORIES ON Africa Digest AT THIS HOUR More than a quarter of a million refugees have returned to South Sudan from neighbouring Sudan and Ethiopia. Malawi is the latest African country to procure doses of AstraZeneca which are likely to arrive by the end of this month.. And Zambia s Medicines Regulatory Authority is recalling defective and unsafe drugs on the market.
Former United Party for National Development (UPND) vice president Dr Canisius Banda during an interview with News Diggers! in Lusaka on December 14, 2017 - Picture by Tenson Mkhala
PUBLIC health specialist Dr Canisius Banda says the recalling of defective products supplied by Honeybee Pharmacy Limited involving so many products all at once is unprecedented in the health and pharmaceutical history of Zambia.
But Dr Banda has commended President Edgar Lungu for quickly intervening and acting in defence of citizens on the controversial drug rollout by making the necessary changes at the Ministry of Health.
On January 28, 2021, Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) wrote to Honeybee Pharmacy directing them to recall 19 more products from the market, including pregnancy test kits and vaginal inserts.
An artificial shortage of drugs in some clinics on the Copperbelt has irked Minister of Health Jonas Chanda who has since directed the Medical Stores Limited to ensure a steady supply.
And the Health Minister has observed that some hospitals were unable to conduct clinical Chemistry and Hematology tests due to a lack of supply of laboratory reagents.
This came to light when Dr. Chanda toured some health facilities and the Copperbelt Regional Medical hub in Luanshya district.
Dr. Chanda wondered why some basic drugs in some clinics in Kitwe, Ndola, and Luanshya districts were in short supply when the regional medical hub was fully stocked.
The government has called for a stable supply chain of drugs to all medical institutions on the Copperbelt Province.
Minister of Health, Jonas Chanda says there is need to eliminate erratic drug supply in all health institutions in the province as this poses a risk to the provision of quality health care.
ZANIS reports that Dr Chanda was speaking after inspecting the medical stores’ regional hub in Luanshya district.
Dr Chanda has hence implored Medical Stores Limited and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) to co-operate in ensuring that challenges associated with the supply of quality drugs are mitigated.
He disclosed that President Edgar Lungu is soon expected to commission the Copperbelt medical stores regional hub.
ZAMRA CAUTIONS ZAMBIANS AGAINST TAKING IVERMECTIN, A DRUG FOR ANIMALS, TO CURE COVID-19 zambiareports.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from zambiareports.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.