Private Sector Involvement in Drug Supply Chain Excites PDU
Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Head, Kusobile Kamwambi (centre) listens to an explanation from the Yash Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals team when she recently conducted a tour of the plant in Chilanga.
The Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) has applauded Yash Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals for its commitment to enhancing the drug supply chain and strengthening Zambia’s health service supply capacity.
The PDU has continued to offer support to local manufacturers to improve the production of essential medicines, cementing President Hakainde Hichilema’s pronouncements on empowering local firms.
During a tour of the Yash Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals plant in Chilanga, Presidential Delivery Unit (PDU) Head Kusobile Kamwambi urged the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supply Agency (ZAMMSA), Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), and the Ministry of Health (MOH) to prioritize local manufacturers when procuring drugs.
Ms. Kamwambi explained that the government was spending colossal sums of money on drug imports and that purchasing them locally would not only be cost-saving but also time-sensitive.
Despite importing most of the drugs the country consumes, Ms. Kamwambi stressed the need to address the challenges that local manufacturers were facing to encourage mass production.
YASH Pharmaceuticals, a leading local manufacturer, is scaling up its operations to meet the growing demand for essential medicines and has emerged as a key player in ensuring the provision of essential medicines in Zambia.
YASH Pharmaceuticals Director Hemansu Patel stated that the government, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, has shown immense support in promoting the local pharmaceutical industry, boosting local drug production, and contributing to the company’s significant expansion.
“President Hakainde Hichilema's support and guidance to Yash Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals really demonstrates his dedication to supporting local manufacturers’ efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure, drug production, drug supply, and reduce maternal mortality. Yash appreciates the government's efforts in creating an enabling environment for these expansion plans,” Patel explained.
The company has also committed to improving quality healthcare and reducing maternal mortality by constructing a 34-bed maternity annex at Kafue General Hospital. The annex will be equipped with four incubators and an emergency theatre, significantly improving the hospital's capacity to provide quality maternal healthcare.
Mr. Patel explained that the company also supports educational initiatives at the secondary level. The support includes an additional 1x3 classroom block with desks, a 1x2 fully equipped science lab, and an ablution block at Lukamantano School in Chilanga. The expansion plan also offers internship programs for pharmacy graduates and international exchange programs.
YASH Pharmaceuticals currently has over 500 direct employees and plans to double its workforce to 1,000 employees by the end of 2024, providing local jobs and increasing household income. In addition, the company plans to take on 160 interns for professional training, investing in the development of young talent to meet international pharmaceutical standards.
The President's Delivery Unit has been instrumental in enhancing the nation's drug supply chain, focusing on improving access to essential medicines and improving livelihoods through job creation and increased household income.
“PDU’s visit to Yash Life Sciences Pharmaceuticals is a testament to the President's desire to create an enabling environment for private sector investment in the pharmaceutical industry. We, as a government, continue to appreciate the work done by local manufacturers like Yash. The New Dawn Government, under the leadership of President Hichilema, continues to demonstrate its support for initiatives that contribute to household income, improved education systems, and the overall socio-economic development of Zambia,” Ms. Kamwambi explained.
The PDU has a target to reach the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended standard of 70% availability of essential medicines in health facilities by 2026.