• Even for the Doctor in ICU they can’t do certain tests.
• So sure Zambia some of these small things we don’t have industries that can make.
• Sometimes the Pharmacy outside they ran out of stocks also.

Ministry of Health has disclosed that there is a countrywide Challenge of Specimen bottles in Hospitals.

This came to light when Minister of Health Sylvia Masebo visited University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.

Ms. Masebo has further collected samples of the specimen bottles stating that she will submit them to University of Zambia to find possible means if they can be locally produced.

She complained over lack of coordination in the country.

“So sure Zambia some of these small things we don’t have industries sure that can make?” The minister said.

“I’ll take these to the University of Zambia, we have a department there that we must start to work with.”

“The problem there is not coordination in this country, every wing works on its own and all we do when things are not good we go to social media.”

Health Staff told the Minister that the challenges with specimen bottles have been countrywide stating that the bottles are procured from (Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZMSA).

“Even for the Doctor in ICU we could not do certain tests because there was no this bottle, they had to come infact here to come and pick a bottle,” the staff said.

“Sometimes the Pharmacy outside they ran out of stocks also, so even if you have resources” it is a challenge to access them .”

“Some of them have alternatives,” the staff revealed.

The Minister of Health had asked the Challenges being faced.

During the 2022 National Budget Presentation, Ministry of Finance Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane said Measures have been put in place to improve supply management systems to ensure availability of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Dr. Musokotwane said the procurement of medicines and medical supplies will be undertaken by Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency in accordance with the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency Act No.9 of2019.

He proposed K13, 911,599,575 which is 8 percent to the Health sector from the overall national Budget worth K173 billion in 2022.