Summary

The main distributor of medines and medical equipment in Zambia,  Medical Stores Limited, required upgrading of its infrastructure in order to improve on the quality and volumes of logistic services it is providing. The support provided by UNDP is aimed at increasing the storage capacity from 7,000m2 to 21,000m2 in Lusaka, improve on the storage and handling systems at MSL and construct four (4) regional warehouses and distribution hubs in four provinces around the country.

Challenge

MSL is the central factor in the storage and distribution of health commodities for the public sector in Zambia, covering over 2,000 health institutions. As a result of increased provision of health services to the general public the supply volumes handled by MSL have increased dramaticaly over the years and MSL faced serious challenges with the storage space available.

Solution

The initiative supported the construction in Lusaka of a new central warehouse for medicines and four regional pharmaceutical warehouses, which meet international quality standards. This initiative significantly enhances capacity of Medical Stores Limited and efficiency to store and distribute medicines, and more broadly assist MSL and the Ministry of Health to improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply management system. This will ultimately benefit the health needs of the Zambian people.

This support to MSL is part of the broader south south cooperation aimed at improving the availability and correct use of good quality medicines for the people of Zambia, Congo and Mozambique.

Provider Country: Government of Zambia

Beneficiary Country: Zambia

Supported by: UNDP, EU, GFTAM, World Bank, Government of Zambia

Implementing agency: UNDP

Project Status: On-going

Project Period: 17 January 2017-31 December 2019

Contact Person: Jan Willem van den Broek, Officer in Charge, Inclusive Growth and SDGs. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.