The Central Medical Stores Trust (CMST) has been accused of delaying the signing memoranda of understanding; an accusation by local pharmaceutical companies. This was revealed when Industry, Trade and Tourism Minister, Francis Kasaila, visited Crown Pharmaceuticals and Victoria Pharmaceuticals.

It was expressed that the delay has kept them from selling drugs to CMST, resulting into an overwhelming increase in imported drugs on the market. Crown Pharmaceuticals’ Chief Executive Officer Vijay Kumar, said that the delay results into stored drugs that have not been sold.

The cry serves as a means to support local businesses, as it does not make sense that the pharmaceuticals’ MoU is being delayed, considering that both pharmaceuticals comply with the requirements for drug production.