Dundumwezi MP advises Gov’t on drugs procurement  

By NAMO PHIRI 

THERE is need for all stakeholders involved in the procurement of medicine to ensure that they speed up the processes of procuring drugs going forward, Dundumwezi Member of Parliament Edgar Sing’ombe has said 

Mr Sing’ombe said he has noticed that the flow of the procurement of drugs was not speedy hence the problems that the country had so far been facing, resulting into perennial shortage of medicines and other medical supplies.

He said in an interview that the processes around procurement of drugs had been one of the stumbling blocks that had led to challenges of shortages of medicines and other medical supplies in the country.

Mr Sing’ombe government should by all means avoid breaking the procurement and supply chain of drugs because it had resulted into erratic supply of medicines in hospitals across the country.

“The drug situation in Dundumwezi is not good. The constituency like other places across the country has been experiencing eratic supply of medicines and other medical supplies. However, I must hasten to say that the situation is stabilizing as we are slowly getting there. But I think we need to work together to do more in the area of ensuring that hospitals and other medical facilities are adequately stocked with all essential drugs,” Mr Sing’ombe said. 

Mr Sing’ombe said President Hakainde Hichilema was on record emphasizing the need for all the procurement processes of everything to be speedy in order for the country to operate smoothly and optimally at all levels.

He said there was need for the stakeholders to quickly move and ensure the health sector was performing at its best in serving Zambians and saving lives. 

Mr Sing’ombe said it was President Hichilema’s desire   that all Zambians irrespective of their status should have easy access to essential drugs as and when they needed them.

Mr Sing’ombe has called for concerted efforts from all the different stakeholders involved in ensuring that there was availability of drugs in the country to quickly work together and change the current situation.

And with regards to the drug issues in his constituency Mr Sing’ombe said the situation was not good as well as many health centers did not have drugs.