On 19th June 2023, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo, MP and the European Union Commissioner for International partnerships Jutta Urpilainen Jointly Commissioned the state-of-the-Art ZAMRA Office Complex and National Drug Quality Laboratory at a colourful ceremony held at the Complex located off Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
Ms Masebo said the launch of the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) national drug quality control laboratory will reduce the cost of medicines and proliferation of counterfeit drugs.
She said the laboratory would strengthen Zambia’s regulatory capacity to ensure that medicines and allied substances being made available to the Zambian people meet the set standards of quality safety and efficacy.
And European Union Commissioner Juttah Urpilainen said the EU is looking for more partnerships in the health sector.
She cited the COVID 19 as one of the challenges that has deepened the partnership between Zambia and the EU.
She said countries could not solve problems individually hence the need to work collaboratively. She said the EU provided Zambia with the critical medical supplies to fight the pandemic and was looking forward to strengthen the health partnerships.
And ZAMRA Director General Siyanga Makomani said the EU had lifted the burden that the Institution faced such as renting of office space.
Mr. Makomani said the government system of promoting health access through the health system strengthening programme would position Zambia into a centre of excellence.
“The mandate of ZAMRA is to promote public health and with the new laboratory ZAMRA was now poised to provide quality control functions and provide factual and accurate advice to the Ministry of Health,” he said.
