HEALTH Minister Dr Elijah Muchima says the withdrawal of USAID funding to the health sector is not a threat as government has catered for the funding gap in the 2026 budget. On Friday, Pharmaceutical Society of Zambia (PSZ) president Keegan Mwape warned that the withdrawal of USAID funding from the health sector had created a US$42 million gap in HIV treatment, which could lead to a crisis if not addressed in the 2026 national budget. In an interview, Sunday, Dr Muchima said the country would start manufacturing ARVs locally within a year, adding that there had been an overwhelming response from manufacturers to start manufacturing ARVs in Zambia. “The Zambian government is aware about what has happened (USAID funding withdrawal)...