UNDP Zambia and UNDP India are collaborating to adapt India’s eVIN platform for healthcare logistics….reports Asian Lite News
Zambia is set to adapt India’s Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) platform to strengthen its medicine supply chain management and improve pharmaceutical tracking systems across the country, under a new collaboration supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative was launched during a five day mission in Lusaka jointly organised by United Nations Development Programme Zambia and UNDP India in partnership with Zambia’s Ministry of Health, the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) and the Smart Zambia Institute.
Running from May 18 to 22, the mission brings together technical experts from India and Zambia under a South South cooperation framework aimed at improving visibility, accountability and efficiency in Zambia’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Originally developed in India to strengthen vaccine logistics and stock monitoring, the eVIN platform has gained international recognition as a digital public health solution capable of enabling real time inventory management, temperature monitoring and improved distribution efficiency.
According to a UNDP statement, Zambia is now exploring how the platform can be adapted to support broader management of essential medicines and health commodities through a national “Track and Trace” system.
“Originally developed in India to strengthen vaccine logistics and stock visibility, the eVIN platform has become a globally recognised digital public health solution capable of enabling real time inventory management, temperature monitoring, and improved distribution efficiency,” the statement said.
The UNDP noted that the initiative comes at a critical time as Zambia works to strengthen resilience, transparency and sustainability in its healthcare system amid growing pressure on health financing and increasing demand for digital accountability tools.
The programme is also aligned with Zambia’s wider digital transformation agenda and ongoing efforts to modernise medicine supply chain management across the country.
During the mission, delegates are scheduled to hold consultations with senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Smart Zambia Institute, ZAMMSA and UNDP. The team will also conduct technical working sessions and field assessments at national, provincial, district and healthcare facility levels.
Discussions are expected to focus on integrating the eVIN platform with Zambia’s existing digital health infrastructure, including governance mechanisms, workflow adaptation, reporting systems, metadata architecture and institutional readiness for pilot implementation.
According to the UNDP, the collaboration is expected to deepen India Zambia cooperation in digital health innovation and could position Zambia as a regional model for intelligent pharmaceutical supply chain systems in Africa.
The initiative will also include engagement with the Indian High Commissioner to Zambia and UNDP officials to explore opportunities for long term technical support and bilateral cooperation during the pilot phase.
The UNDP said the project aims to improve stock visibility, reduce medicine wastage and shortages, strengthen accountability and ensure faster access to essential medicines for communities across Zambia by leveraging proven digital public infrastructure models and South South cooperation.
