FANNY KALONDA
Lusaka
IN A major move, Minister of Health Alex Katakwe has suspended five senior procurement and supply chain officers at Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA).
The suspensions are meant to curb inefficiency, negligence, and any form of misconduct at the country’s medicines hub.
Dr Katakwe has since called on Drug Enforcement Commission and Anti-Corruption Commission to urgently investigate the suspended officers.
The minister has also revoked the appointment of Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) president Keagan Mwape as ZAMMSA board member and asked PSZ to nominate another representative.
Last month, when President Hakainde Hichilema swore in Dr Katakwe as the new Minister of Health, he urged him to ensure that ZAMMSA works with the necessary urgency in the distribution of drugs across the country.
“Dr Katakwe, ZAMMSA must work, ZAMMSA must work. We don’t want medicines, drugs, equipment for testing for high blood pressure, heart palpitations…they are in the warehouses but a clinic in Kabompo, in Chama doesn’t have, but they’re sitting in the warehouse,” the President had said.
Dr Katakwe announced the suspensions at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
He warned that Government will not tolerate misconduct in the management of medicines and medical supplies.
Those suspended are medicines procurement manager and acting director of procurement Justine Mulimo, who has been replaced with procurement manager Milimo Katongo, who will also act as director of procurement.
Senior procurement officer and acting medicines procurement manager Diana Musa has also been suspended and replaced with senior procurement officer Julius Njobvu, who will act as medicines procurement manager.
Senior procurement officer Brian Mununka has equally been suspended and replaced with procurement officer Rodney Simuchimba, who will act as senior medicines procurement officer.
Rachel Msimuko, the senior manager for supply and planning, and acting director of supply planning, has also been put on suspension and replaced with supply planning manager Oliver Ng’andwe, who will act as director of supply planning.
Senior manager for warehousing and distribution and acting director of warehousing and distribution Roosevelt Kyanamina is on suspension also and has been replaced with Mercy Jere, who will act as director of warehousing and distribution.
Dr Katakwe said the suspensions of senior officers have been made to strengthen procurement systems and ensure timely distribution of medicines and medical supplies across the country.
The minister said the changes at ZAMMSA have been effected in line with Government’s continued efforts to improve performance and safeguard public resources.
“I wish to assure the nation that these measures are being implemented in the best interest of the country to strengthen service delivery.”
Dr Katakwe assured the nation that there will be no disruption in the supply of medicines as systems are being reinforced to ensure reliability, transparency, and efficiency in the supply chain.
The minister said access to essential medicines and medical supplies remains a top national priority.
Dr Katakwe said ensuring that medicines reach the last mile, every clinic, every health centre, and every community is nonnegotiable.
He warned that any obstacle standing in the way of this objective will be addressed firmly and decisively.
And Dr Katakwe has made nine acting appointments to reinforce operational continuity at ZAMMSA.
Diana Nambozi will continue acting as senior manager for supply planning, while Mayamiko Kaoma will act as supply planning manager.
Jean Chongo will act as supply planning senior officer and Katai Harrison as senior supply planning officer.
Others are Rodah Mayawa, who will act as senior manager for hub operations, Japhet Daka as procurement manager – goods, Daniel Kasima as senior procurement officer – goods, and Simon Mukuka as quality assurance manager.
Dubile Muchindika has been appointed to act as inbound logistics manager, while Nchimunya Habanji will act as inbound logistics senior officer.
