ZAMMSA acting DG, 4 others sent on leave
By a Correspondent
FORMER Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) acting Director General Dr John Kachimba and four others have been sent on forced leave to pave way for investigations into corruption allegations in the procurement of medicines.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Minister of Health Dr Elijah Muchima said the move was necessitated by a forensic audit report that revealed their involvement in corruption.
Dr Muchima warned that everyone implicated would face the law accordingly, without fear or favor.
He said that while the number of suspects in the pilferage of medicines had increased, the officials currently remained suspects until the full legal process was concluded.
Dr Muchima said a reset of ZAMMSA’s management was underway as part of broader reforms within the agency.
In November last year, the Government established an Inter-Agency Task Force on the Pilferage of Medicines and Medical Supplies at ZAMMSA.
This followed disturbing revelations that medicines and supplies procured with taxpayer funds and grants from the United States (US) and other cooperating partners, were being systematically stolen and diverted, mainly to private pharmacies across the country.
Meanwhile, Dr Muchima accused the private health sector of being dishonest regarding its concerns over debt involving the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA).
He said it was not true that NHIMA owed colossal sums of money from 2024, challenging stakeholders to provide evidence as soon as possible.
Dr Muchima said that the funds currently being collected were insufficient to meet all liabilities, adding that until the law was amended to increase the percentage, debt would remain a challenge.
On Monday, the Healthcare Federation of Zambia (HFZ) said NHIMA owed the private health sector hundreds of millions of Kwacha for services provided to the public.
HFZ president Dr Shailen Desai said the private health sector was on the verge of collapse due to unpaid claims, some dating back to 2024.
Dr Desai said it was sad that NHIMA prioritised payments to the public sector with the private sector receiving whatever remained.
