Zambia is tightening controls on the distribution of pharmaceutical products. On November 2, the country launched a national medicine traceability system aimed at combating the theft and diversion of products from public healthcare facilities, Health Minister Roma Chilengi announced.
Established by the Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), the system is based on assigning a barcode and a unique serial number to each box of medicine. The objective is to track their movement from manufacturing or importation through to dispensing to patients.
The system also provides for distinct labeling depending on the destination of the products. Medicines intended for public healthcare facilities will carry a red security label stating "Property of the Ministry of Health, Not for Sale.” Those reserved for private pharmacies will be identified by a blue label.
According to Minister Roma Chilengi, this measure will enable both authorities and consumers to more easily identify state-owned medicines that have been diverted from public supply chains for illegal resale.
To facilitate the implementation of this new regulation, a transitional period has been established until April 30, 2027. This will allow manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to comply with the new requirements. From May 1, 2027, no medicine without a valid security label will be authorized for sale in Zambia.
Through this initiative, the authorities aim to strengthen oversight of the pharmaceutical supply chain and limit the introduction of stolen, counterfeit, or diverted medicines into legal distribution channels.
This reform comes amid recurring reports of government-funded medicines and medical supplies being found in private pharmacies and informal markets. These practices have raised concerns about stock shortages in public healthcare facilities and undermined public confidence in the healthcare system.
With this new mechanism, Zambia aims to improve transparency in the distribution of pharmaceutical products, strengthen accountability among industry stakeholders, and ensure that medicines intended for public healthcare facilities actually reach patients.