Special Advisor to the President on   Health, Roma Chilengi has cautioned pharmacists in public health institutions against using shortcuts to amass wealth through theft of medicines.

Prof Chilengi said theft of medicines has continued to be a major challenge towards the provision of quality health care services to the people across the country.

He said the Government is spending huge sums of money on the procurement of drugs in its quest to enhance provision of quality health care services in public health institutions.

ZANIS reports that Prof Chilengi said this during the Antimicrobial Stewardship Review Meeting in Kabwe aimed at raising awareness on the problem of antimicrobial resistance.

‘’Every pharmacist should ensure that all the drugs being sent to public health institutions reach the intended beneficiaries. This issue of stealing drugs meant for our citizens should come to an end,” Prof Chilengi said.

 Prof Chilengi has further called for accountability in the management of medicines by those entrusted with the responsibility to monitor the distribution of drugs.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Lishimpi, disclosed prescription and administration of drugs that kill or slow the spread of microorganisms known as antimicrobial in medical terms, causing drug resistance.

Dr Lishimpi said that Zambia is losing many lives because of the same health challenge which has a higher death rate compared to HIV/AIDS and Malaria in Zambia and other developing countries.

“As evidenced by the global research on the global antimicrobial resistance study, Antimicrobial Resistance is a leading cause of death globally,” Dr Lishimpi said.

And Ministry of Health Chief Pharmacist, Kandandu Chibosha noted that it is not worth it for any health worker to lose a job in the public service over theft of drugs.

Mr Kabosha said pharmacists have an obligation to ensure that all drugs under their jurisdiction are used for the benefit of citizens across the country.