The Provincial Administration in Muchinga Province is undertaking the inspection of private pharmacies and drug stores in a bid to crackdown medicine pilferage in the province.
The exercise which aims to prevent shortages of medicines in government health facilities, thereby keeping essential medicines accessible to citizens has cheered the private health sector in the district.
To this effect the Private Health sector in Chinsali district has praised the government for embarking on the inspection of pharmacies and drug stores to guard against medicine pilferage and ensure compliance to the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) guidelines.
A Pharmacy Personnel Chrispin Mwape talked to by the media during the inspection said the move by the government to inspect pharmacies and drug stores will help in ensuring compliance with standards that are in line with ZAMRA guidelines.
Mr Mwape added that frequent inspections apart from those conducted by ZAMRA will also ensure that qualified personnel operate in the pharmacies and health shops.
And a Pharmacologist Faustina Chishimba has pointed out that there is need for expanded inspections to promote accountability and patriotism in the health sector.
Ms Chishimba has therefore called on the inspecting team to extend the inspection exercise to other shops who might be selling medicines without proper documentation as it can foster a culture of compliance and responsibility.
Another Pharmacy Personnel Benson Chingwe has appreciated the programme, saying the inspection exercise is very important in preventing drug diversion and ensuring public safety.
Mr Chingwe added that the inspection exercise will help to identify and address potential issues and ensure action is taken against any wrongdoing.
“Your proactive approach to inspect the private health sector in Chinsali district and other areas is commendable,” he said.
And Muchinga Province Assistant Secretary Evans Hichilema who spoke through one of the team member Sydney Ngulube during the inspection exercise has commended the private health sector in Chinsali for complying with guidelines of the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) and the Public Health facilities in the district for putting up internal control measures as no pilferage of medicine has been recorded in Chinsali district.
Mr Hichilema highlighted that Chinsali district has accomplished about 99 percent in terms of compliance levels.
“So far no medicine pilferage has been found and I would like to commend the public health facilities for putting up internal control measures to mitigate pilferage of medicines,” he said.
Meanwhile Chinsali District Hospital pharmacist Kaucha Phiri says the inspection exercise carried out in Chinsali district has reviewed that no pilferage of medicines has been recorded.
Ms Phiri attributed the achievement to tight control measures put in place at various health facilities in the district.
She added that all the pharmacies and drug stores inspected are legally procuring their medicines, saying no drugs meant to be found at government health facilities have been found in any of the private health facilities in the district.
Ms Phiri also said medicines being sold at the inspected pharmacies and drug stores are up to date with the shelf life, as no expired drug is being sold.
