Government has denied diverting any funds meant for the purchase of medical and health drugs to fund free education as alleged in some sections of the media.
Chief Government Spokesperson Chushi Kasanda says government is taken aback by a story in which Patriotic Front member and former Roan Member of Parliament, Chishimba Kambwili is quoted as saying the reason behind the current drug shortage is because government has used money meant to buy drugs to finance free education.
Ms. Kasanda has described this allegation as unfounded and a sheer figment of Mr Kambwili’s imagination saying government has adequately funded the hospitals since taking office in august last year.
She has explained that government has increased funding to hospitals from the K1.4 Billion that the PF used to allocate to hospitals to K3.8 Billion adding that in December 2021 alone, government tripled the monthly allocation to the hospitals from K50, 000 to K100, 000 a month.
Ms. Kasanda states that government is aware that drug levels are not sitting at the ideal 80% level but are also not less than 50%.
She adds that the delay in the purchase of drugs was caused by litigation matters that made the new Zambia Medicines & Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) Board re-advertise the tender, a process she says is unavoidable and has since assured members of the public that government is working at normalizing the situation.
“This allegation is unfounded and a sheer figment of Mr Kambwili’s imagination. The New Dawn Government has adequately funded our hospitals ever since we took office. We have increased the funding to hospitals from the K1.4 billion the PF used to allocate to hospitals to K3.8 billion.”
“In December 2021 alone, we tripled the monthly allocation we give the hospitals. From January to March, we have doubled the amounts they used to receive from K50,000 to K100,000 a month. We have been paying these monies on time.”
She added, “We would like to categorically state that we are aware that drug levels are not sitting at the ideal 80% level but are also not less than 50%. We believe, if the hospitals effectively used the monies we give them, they can avert the shortages. We know for a fact, that the delay in the purchase of drugs was caused by litigation matters that made the new ZAMMSA board re-advertise the tender. This process is unavoidable.”
Useless government full of useless arrogant failures. In 7 months they have run this country down. Oh god help us
Even using Faith Musonda’s money for scholarship is wrong. The nation needs to know who really owns that money and why the government opted for a deal with her instead of prosecution. 2026 please come quickly so that we can know the truth. Sweeping dirt under the carpet doesn’t hide forever.
No problem… just transfer the problem to another problem area.
Honeybee, the black sheep must be remove from the awarded tenders. They disolved ZAMMSA owing to the Bee’s existence.
That’s why there is this deadly delay. Lives are lost and who is responsible for the deaths? Can’t you source from other suppliers approved by the former board? Don’t take health for granted, public money is people’s money.
Ati there is but not less than 50%. She doesn’t even know if there is medicine or not.
This government will kill a lot of people wilfully. It should have come up with a contingent plan before dissolving which ever board that existed at the time.
@ Deja Vu, that case is closed and buried, it will not come back and we won’t know who was behind the money. Zambia for you.
This government is evil…….
Honourable Chushi you don’t have to respond to each and every foolish statement. Nobody listens to Kambwili. He is mad. he said so himself
True, pkease do not waste your time and energies responding to PF so called leaders’ rantings. They represent no one other than their pockets and bruised fat egos