By VITA BANDA
Government should promote manufacturing of drugs locally by giving incentives to the industry to avert the chronic drug shortage the country has been facing, former Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya has said.
Speaking when he featured on Millennium TV programme dubbed Millennium tonight, Dr Chilufya said government should reduce taxes on the importation of some machinery and products needed in the manufacturing of drugs.
He said that having drugs manufactured locally will make it easier for government to respond quickly to unforeseen outbreaks of diseases.
Dr Chilufya said this will also help government to start access the commodity cheaply unlike depending expensive imported drugs.
He said it is easier to manage framework of contracts with local companies compared to foreign companies.
Meanwhile the former minister has disputed allegations that the Ministry of Health during his tenure of office procured expired drugs. He challenged government to probe the issue so that the matter can be settled.
Dr Chilufya has previously denied ever importing expired drugs blaming the narrative on political enemies who thought they could bring him down with this fake propaganda.
