Pharmaceutical and Supply Chain Expert Mr. Keegan Mwape has commended Government for launching the National Pharmaceutical Authentication and Traceability System, saying the mandatory use of Security Labels on all medicines will protect patients and curb theft and pilferage of Government medicines.
Commenting on the recent announcement by Minister of Health, Hon. Prof. Roma Chilengi, on the system to be implemented by the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), Mr. Mwape said the reform, built on GS1 global standards, will ensure every medicine in Zambia can be authenticated from manufacturer to patient.
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The Health Minister announced that all medicines manufactured, imported, distributed, sold or dispensed in Zambia shall bear a custom Security Label with a GS1-compliant 2D barcode. Medicines for the private sector will bear a Blue Label while Government medicines will bear a Red Label marked “Property of Ministry of Health, Not for Sale”. Any Red Label medicine offered for sale is stolen property and will be investigated by the Drug Enforcement Commission and Zambia Police.
Mr. Mwape, who is the Immediate Past President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) said the reform addresses two major threats – falsified medicines and diversion of public medicines, noting that WHO estimates 1 in 10 medical products in low and middle-income countries is substandard or falsified.
“The introduction of the Red Label is a game-changer. It provides a clear, enforceable distinction between public and private medicines and will finally end pilferage and misappropriation that has denied patients in public facilities their rightful medicines,” said Mr. Mwape.
The system will also create a National Product Catalogue through the Global Data Synchronisation Network (GDSN), enabling end-to-end visibility, targeted recalls, reduced wastage and improved inventory management at ZAMMSA and health facilities.
He has since issued a clarion call to stakeholders to comply with the timelines: registration from 2nd November 2026, mandatory labelling of new consignments from 1st February 2027, and full enforcement from 1st May 2027 after the grace period ends on 30th April 2027.
According to the Ministerial announcement, from 1st May 2027 non-compliance will attract seizure and destruction of products, suspension or revocation of licences, closure of premises and criminal prosecution.
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