FUEL PROCUREMENT SYSTEM UNSUSTAINABLE - ZICA
Thursday September, 2020 COVID-
THEZambia Institute of Chartered Accountants Steroids can help the sickest (ZiCA) has called for a com prehensive overhaul of the fuel procurement system as the current structure is sus
patients, studies show
tainable in the long run.
The industry expects pric ing of petroleum products to be a significant challenge
INTERNATIONAL
that the Minister needs to
clinical
address in detail, according
trials confirm the hope to the that ZiCA the president, cheap, Cecilia widely
Zimba. available drugs can help se-
riously Ms Zimba ill patients said ZiCA survive. was happy The World with the Health Government Organi- pronouncement zation is expected to to restruc release ture new the guidelines fuel supply encouraging chain and their achieve use. least cost pricing while International ensuring stable clinical supply tri- of als petroleum published products. on Wednesday
confirmed “Currently, the petroleum hope that products cheap, widely are being available subsidised ste- through roid drugs actual can cash help subsidies seriously and ill patients tax concessions survive (zero Covid-19, rat
the illness caused by the
ing for VAT purposes and cus
coronavirus.
toms duty exemption).
Following release of the new data, the World Health Organization on Wednes- day strongly recommended steroids for treatment of pa- tients with severe or critical
“This is not sustainable in
Covid-19 worldwide. But the the long agency run and recommended calls for a comprehensive against giving overhaul the drugs of to the patients fuel procurement with mild disease. system,” Ms The Zimba new recently studies told include the press. an analysis that pooled data
from Meanwhile, seven randomized Ms Zimba said clin- ZiCA ical would trials be evaluating pursuing three the mandate steroids to in prosecute over 1,700 people pa- and tients. firms The that study held out concluded as ac countants that each when of the they three were drugs not trained reduced in the the risk practice of death. and theory That of paper accountancy. and three relat- ed She studies said were according published to in the journal JAMA, along with
section 18 and 19 of the
an editorial describing the re- search as an “important step forward in the treatment of patients with Covid-19.”
PATIENTS
Accountants Act of 2008, it was Steroids an offence like to dexametha- employ or engage sone, to offer hydrocortisone finance related services and a methylprednisolone person or firm that was are not often duly registered used by doc- by the Zambia tors Institute to tamp down of Chartered the
Accountants. body’s immune system,
alleviating inflammation,
Ms Zimba emphasised that
swelling and pain. Many
the Act provided for penalties
Covid-19 patients die not
to such and that ZiCA was
of the virus, but of the therefore body’s forging overreaction relation to ships the for infection. such prosecution.
“We wish to urge all em ployers and individuals to ask for proof of valid ZICA Corticosteroids should
first-line membership before engag ing accountants, auditors and firms in any work. If in doubt, they must contact the Institute.
“I wish to remind members that subscription fees and an nual CPD returns are due on 1st January 2022.
Validity of membership is by payment of relevant subscription fees as well as compliance to continuous professional development re quirements,” she said.