Pharmacy union alleges underground moves to sack current Director-General

The Zambia Union of Pharmacy Professionals says there are administrative changes at Zambia Medicines and Medical Supply Agency targeted at removing the current Director General by way of terminating his contract.

Union General Secretary, Obbie Chomba, claimed that the Director General had subsequently proceeded on leave and his position had been left in the hands of another officer bearing the substantive title of Director of Finance to act.

Chomba said this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday and made available to Zambia Monitor.

He said whilst it was within the Board’s mandate to propose administrative changes at ZAMMSA, the Board should give concrete reasons behind such maneouvers.

“We wish to remind our able members of the board that ZAMMSA was created, primarily, to procure, store and distribute medicines, medical supplies and other medical devices among other related products,” Chomba said.

He said the administrative changes that had taken place at the institution prior to the establishment of the ZAMMSA board and subsequent appointment of the Director General of ZAMMSA had a direct negative ripple effect on medicines availability.

“Since the appointment of the DG, ZAMMSA made some headway in as far as procuring a stable supply of medicines and medical supplies was concerned,” Chomba said.

He said the nation witnessed the procurement of Health Centre Kits which were critical in ensuring an uninterrupted supply of essential drugs at the lowest level of health care.

Chomba said several activities have been undertaken to salvage the situation at ZAMMSA under the leadership of the current Director General who was qualified and competent to discharge the duties of a pharmacist at ZAMMSA.

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