Health
Audit Uncovers K1.4 Billion Procurement Irregularities at ZAMMSA
An audit at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency, ZAMMSA, has...
By Wilson Mulinda
An audit at the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency, ZAMMSA, has uncovered procurement irregularities involving contracts worth 1.4 billion kwacha.
Health Minister ROMA CHILENGI disclosed this in a ministerial statement to the National Assembly today.
Professor CHILENGI said some irregularities occurred despite objections from the agency’s internal audit department, with prices for Medonza and other supplies reportedly inflated by as much as 1,613 per cent.
He said the audit also revealed that 4,996 shipments had disappeared from the agency’s records.
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In addition, 3.34 million units of medicines and medical supplies, valued at about 290 million kwacha, could not be verified.
The audit further uncovered 42 million kwacha in unexplained distribution discrepancies and a 16.1 million kwacha contract awarded to an unregistered supplier.
Professor CHILENGI said the findings prompted Government to dissolve the agency’s board and remove its Director-General and other directors.
He stated that law enforcement agencies had launched investigations, resulting in some arrests.
The Minister said Government is overhauling ZAMMSA to improve accountability, transparency and efficiency in the supply of medicines.
He also disclosed that Government funding for medicines and medical supplies has increased to 6.4 billion kwacha this year, from 1.6 billion kwacha in 2021.
Source: Zambia24 — Read more
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