Pharmaceutical Society Condemns Health Minister’s Directive Of Not Issuing Prescriptions To Patients
Written by Mafken FM Newsroom on 26 March 2025
By Anthony Chomba
Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia President Keegan Mwape has criticized Health Minister Elijah Muchima’s directive for public hospitals to provide medicines directly to patients, rather than issuing prescriptions.
Mr. Mwape argues that this approach is unrealistic, as not all essential medications are readily available in hospitals and healthcare facilities.
He has told Mafken News in Lusaka in an interview that the Medicines and Allied Substances Act clearly outlines the proper handling of prescriptions, highlighting the importance of adhering to these guidelines.
He also stressed the need to separate politics from healthcare, noting that no country has a system where hospitals consistently stock every necessary medication.
In contrast, Minister Muchima claims that hospitals are 98% stocked with necessary medicines, and therefore, patients should not need to purchase their own medication.
However, .Mr. Mwape has urged government to prioritize legal provisions regarding prescriptions and medication distribution, ensuring that patients receive the necessary treatment.
