Story by Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
The first batch of medicines from Egypt which is expected in the country soon, is set to enhance drug stocks and ensure essential medicines are available at affordable prices at public health institutions.
This follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Zimbabwe and United Arab Emirates global medical consumables giant IntraPharma in 2021.
Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health and Child Care, Air Commodore Jasper Chimedza told the ZBC News, “We have already placed an order for medications which will then be able to cover the gap between now and the end of the year. So, we should be seeing some medication coming into the country within the coming few weeks and we have agreed with the manufacturer at the same time simultaneously.
“We are also developing an industrial pharmaceutical park which will be established in Victoria Falls with the aim of not only supplying the Zimbabwean market but also the SADC market which is composed of 300 million people. Their drugs are much cheaper than the traditional market where we are importing from, so we should be seeing a marked reduction of prices of drugs not only for the public hospitals but also for the private sector,” he said.
The joint venture between Zimbabwe and IntraPharma will also see a drug manufacturing plant being set up in the resort city of Victoria Falls.
“We were discussing where we stand with Zimbabwe today for the project and what is the going forward and we got His Honourable’s guidance and support for making what is the strategy. Now the world is going with partnerships and it is always fruitful to work with the partners where each party complement each other,” IntraPharma chairman, Engineer Ibrahim Ramel noted.
The government has been on a drive to ensure citizens have access to effective and affordable medicines as espoused in the National Pharmaceutical Strategy.
This has seen the country establishing alliances with global drug manufacturing giants.
