Zambia’s legal and policy framework supporting the prevention, treatment, and management of cancer

The Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) Executive Committee, led by President Keegan Mwape, today appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Health to make submissions on the adequacy of Zambia’s legal and policy framework supporting the prevention, treatment, and management of cancer. Cancer continues to pose a growing public health challenge in Zambia and calls for a deliberate shift from policy intentions to enforceable, coordinated, and adequately resourced legal and institutional mechanisms. While the country has recorded notable progress through national strategies and sector-specific initiatives, the absence of a comprehensive legal framework has constrained coherence, accountability, and long-term sustainability. In its submission, PSZ proposed a pragmatic, phased reform agenda that is responsive to Zambia’s institutional capacity and economic realities, while drawing on regional and global best practices. During the engagement, the Society was invited to indicate whether, if afforded the opportunity, it would be willing to develop and submit a Private Member’s Bill on cancer regulation. In response, the President confirmed that the Society is ready to undertake this task and has the requisite technical and professional capacity to do so. He noted that the proposed Bill would be developed through the PSZ Legal Committee, in collaboration with other experts and members of the pharmacy profession, and would be informed by evidence, stakeholder engagement, and international best practice. The President further indicated that, at the time of submitting a Private Member’s Bill on cancer regulation, the Society would also present a complementary Private Member’s Bill on professional self-regulation, aimed at strengthening accountability, ethics, and standards within the pharmacy profession in line with contemporary regulatory principles. Key recommendations presented by PSZ included: 🔹 Enactment of a comprehensive cancer control law, either through a dedicated Cancer Control Act or a strengthened Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) legal framework 🔹 Strengthened national governance and coordination through the Ministry of Health, supported by a multi-sectoral coordinating mechanism with statutory authority 🔹 Legal designation of cancer as a notifiable condition to strengthen the national cancer registry and improve data-driven planning 🔹 Formal recognition of palliative care, including sustainable access to pain relief and essential controlled medicines 🔹 Enhanced legal protections for cancer patients participating in clinical trials and research 🔹 Enforceable occupational health and safety standards for oncology health workers 🔹 Structured training, scholarship, and retention pathways for oncology-related human resources 🔹 Progressive decentralisation of cancer services through a tiered service delivery model 🔹 Strengthening of sustainable financing mechanisms for cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment 🔹 Formalisation of social protection measures for indigent and vulnerable cancer patients These proposals are intended to improve cancer outcomes through a phased, realistic, and equity-driven approach, with particular focus on children and high-burden cancers. PSZ emphasised the central role of pharmacy professionals across the cancer care continuum, from prevention and early detection to treatment, palliative care, and medicines governance. The Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with Parliament, Government, and all stakeholders to advance legislation that strengthens patient protection, supports health workers, and delivers sustainable improvements in cancer care.