President Hakainde Hichilema has warned that any theft of drugs from the health sector will now be considered as economic crimes and will come with clear consequences.

The Head of State has since implored health personnel to stop personalising drugs and health equipment.

 ZANIS reports that the President was speaking  when he addressed the Media at the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross shortly after the funeral church service of Ada Mwale, the late wife to Bank of Zambia Governor,  Denny Kalyalya.

 The President also said the country can do better diagnostically to identify cases of cancer.

“As a country we can do better diagnostically to identify cases of cancer. Also our medical personnel pick it up and even more critically, for us who work in the public sector, especially for us in the health sector , we must never take anything that is valuable to people such as drugs and equipment and make it personal,” he said.

Speaking during the funeral church service for his late wife, Dr Kalyalya disclosed that his late wife battled with Pancreatic cancer for 15 months before her demise.  

Mrs Kalyalya aged 65, passed away on November 27, 2024, in South Africa after a 15 month battle with pancreatic cancer.

She has left a husband and three children.