Story by Gay Matambo
ZIMBABWE has made significant strides in modernising its medical storage and supply chain infrastructure, transitioning from traditional warehousing to a high-tech, decentralised model aimed at improving access to essential medicines.
A major milestone in this transformation was achieved in October last year with the commissioning of the US$6.9 million NatPharm Mutare Warehouse under the National Health Strategy (2021–2025).
The facility was officially opened by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Located near Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital and strategically positioned close to the Port of Beira, the warehouse has firmly placed Mutare at the centre of Zimbabwe’s national medical supply chain.
Since its commissioning, the warehouse has increased storage capacity by more than 400 percent, expanding from 800 to 3 400 pallet spaces, enabling NatPharm to hold significantly larger volumes of medicines and medical consumables.
NatPharm Mutare Manager, Mr Cathius Mundandishe, said the expansion has fundamentally changed how medicines are stocked and distributed in Manicaland Province.
“The Mutare warehouse now has a holding capacity of 3 400 pallets, up from 800 at the old facility. This allows us to hold more stock for our clients across Manicaland. Previously, we operated on a just-in-time system, which made it difficult to respond to shortages. The expanded capacity ensures availability and reliability,” he said.
To safeguard critical cold-chain medicines, the facility has been equipped with a 360-kilowatt solar power system, ensuring uninterrupted operations.
“We currently use about 120 kilowatts, with the excess power fed into the national grid,” Mr Mundandishe added.
The establishment of the warehouse has also significantly reduced turnaround times for hospitals and clinics, improving efficiency in health service delivery.
Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital Senior Pharmacist, Mr Keith Ndlovu, said the proximity of the facility has had a direct positive impact on patient care.
“Having a NatPharm warehouse just a stone’s throw away has greatly assisted us as a provincial hospital serving the entire Manicaland Province. We can now receive medicines in the correct quantities and at the right time, which has improved patient care as medicines are readily available when needed,” he said.
Patients at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital have also expressed satisfaction with the improved availability of medicines.
“We are happy that we are getting our medication on time, and essential medicines are always available,” said one patient.
Another patient added, “Since I started receiving medicines here, I have never gone home without my medication. We also appreciate the improved services at the pharmacy.”
President Mnangagwa has reaffirmed government’s commitment to strengthening the national medicines supply chain through the construction of additional regional warehouses across the country.
“I urge the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure that the construction of additional regional warehouses in other provinces goes according to plan. This will significantly improve operational efficiency in accessing medicines, drugs and medical consumables, and enhance our quest to achieve Universal Health Coverage,” the President said.
He also underscored the importance of capacitating NatPharm and boosting local pharmaceutical production.
“Government will continue to capacitate NatPharm to ensure the availability of medicines. At the same time, stimulating national self-reliance through local manufacturing of medicines and medical equipment remains critically important. Since 2018, there has been a 56 percent increase in pharmaceutical manufacturing entities, from nine in 2020 to the current 14. I challenge government players, the private sector, institutions of higher learning and development partners to scale up collaboration to further expand local production,” President Mnangagwa said.
The modern NatPharm Mutare Warehouse is equipped with an enterprise resource planning system and currently serves more than 300 health facilities across Manicaland Province, marking a major step forward in stabilising Zimbabwe’s national medicines supply chain.
