The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) has announced it is exploring new opportunities to enhance access to affordable and high-quality health solutions through strategic partnerships with Egypt. This development was revealed in a statement issued on Wednesday by ZAMMSA Senior Manager for Corporate Communications, Bradley Chingobe.
According to the statement, ZAMMSA Interim Director General, Dr John Kachimba, highlighted the immense potential of Zambia’s collaboration with Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority (UPA). Dr Kachimba made these remarks during a courtesy call on the Zambian Embassy in Cairo.
Dr Kachimba explained that Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority has demonstrated expertise in health procurement systems and could play a key role in helping Zambia streamline its supply chain for medicines and medical supplies. He noted that the UPA’s experience in managing bulk procurements and delivering affordable health solutions could significantly benefit Zambia’s healthcare sector.
“The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency is actively exploring promising opportunities to enhance access to affordable, high-quality health solutions through strengthened partnerships with Egypt,” said Dr Kachimba.
The discussions between ZAMMSA and Egypt’s UPA focused on areas such as joint procurement processes, cost reduction strategies, and technical support to improve Zambia’s capacity in medical logistics and supply chain management.
Dr Kachimba stressed that Zambia stands to gain from Egypt’s robust procurement models, which have enabled the North African country to deliver essential medicines and medical supplies to its population at reduced costs. He added that knowledge transfer and capacity building will also form a critical part of the potential collaboration.
ZAMMSA continues to seek innovative solutions to ensure the availability of essential medicines and medical supplies for all Zambians. The agency remains committed to its goal of ensuring universal access to quality healthcare commodities through efficient procurement and distribution systems.
As the talks progress, ZAMMSA has expressed optimism that this partnership with Egypt will help Zambia improve access to affordable healthcare solutions, ultimately enhancing the well-being of its citizens.