Zambia will introduce a nationwide medicine tracking system on November 2 to curb theft and diversion of drugs from public health facilities and strengthen accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Under the system, every pack of medicine sold in the country will carry a unique barcode and serial number, allowing it to be tracked from manufacture or importation to the patient.
Health Minister Roma Chilengi said the initiative would be implemented by the Ministry of Health and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA).
Medicines supplied through public health facilities will carry a red security label marked “Property of the Ministry of Health, Not for Sale”, while those intended for private pharmacies will bear blue labels.
Chilengi explained that the system would enable authorities and members of the public to identify government-owned medicines stolen and diverted for illegal sale.
The initiative is designed to provide real-time traceability and make it more difficult for stolen, counterfeit or diverted medicines to enter legitimate supply chains.
A grace period will run until April 30, 2027, to allow manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers to comply with the new requirements.
From May 1, 2027, medicines without valid security labels will no longer be permitted on the Zambian market.
The launch comes as Zambia continues to grapple with the theft of medicines and medical supplies, a problem that has undermined public confidence in the health system and contributed to shortages in public health facilities.
Reports of government-supplied drugs appearing in private pharmacies and informal markets have prompted calls for tighter controls and greater accountability across the pharmaceutical supply chain.
AP
