THE Ministry of Health (MoH) has put in place a laboratory commodities management information system to order CD4 reagents and consumables from Medical Stores Limited.

The ministry has also said the shortage of CD4 count reagents that affected medical services in Chadiza District last week had been resolved.

Ministry spokesperson Reuben Mbewe said in a statement that the information system had been set up to help laboratories record consumption rates.

"The ministry has put in place a system called laboratory commodities management information system which all laboratories are using to order reagents and consumables from Medical Stores Limited," he said.

Mr Mbewe said once collected, the ministry would use the data to make timely decisions to forecast consumption and replenish laboratories to avoid stock run-outs.

On the reported shortage of CD4 count reagents in Chadiza, Dr Mbewe said it was because the Centre for Infectious Disease and Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) had pulled out of Chadiza health centre.

CIDRZ was the organisation which mandated itself with maintaining the CD4 machines at Chadiza Rural Health Centre but had since withdrawn after the expiry of the initial partnership tenure.

"In Chadiza CD4 machines were maintained by one of our partners, CIDRZ who have since pulled out.

"The shortage of CD4 reagents was caused by the transitioning in support from our previous partner," Dr Mbewe said.

The ministry has since taken over the supply of CD4 reagents at the rural health centre.