Ndola, 16th May 2025 – The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) wishes to dispel false and misleading claims circulating on social media regarding the procurement of Health Centre Kits. Contrary to the assertions being made, there is no scandal concerning this procurement process.

Allegations suggesting interference from State House or the cancellation of an awarded contract are wholly unfounded. At no point was the tender cancelled. The process was at the recommendation stage, proceeding in full accordance with the Public Procurement Act and all applicable regulations.

The tender was structured into two distinct categories:
• International, targeting experienced global suppliers with demonstrated capacity, and
• Local, reserved exclusively for Zambian-based manufacturers to encourage local industry development.

As required by standard procurement protocols, bids were subjected to a rigorous evaluation process. Recommendations were submitted to the ZAMMSA Procurement Committee (ZPC), which provided further oversight. During its review, ZPC raised valid operational concerns regarding the capacity of a newly established supplier to fulfil such a large-scale contract.

In contrast, Mission Pharma, an international supplier, has consistently met its obligations by reliably delivering Health Centre Kits to over 2,000 primary health facilities every two months. This track record of performance significantly informed the procurement decision.

Based on ZPC’s guidance, the process was revised and resubmitted to reinforce compliance and safeguard service delivery. The international component was awarded with consideration of supplier capacity and past performance, while the local category continues to be exclusively reserved for Zambian suppliers in line with ZAMMSA’s policy of promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing.

ZAMMSA remains committed to transparency, fairness, and accountability in all procurement activities. Every decision taken was guided by technical merit, supplier history, and the overarching goal of ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medicines and medical supplies.

The Agency reaffirms its dedication to maintaining public trust and delivering on its mandate to support a resilient, equitable, and efficient national healthcare supply system.

Issued by:
Bradley Chingobe
Senior Manager – Corporate Communications
Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA)