Story Abigirl Tembo, Health Editor
Zimbabwe and Egypt are seeking to improve bilateral cooperation and maximise shared benefits in the fields of pharmaceuticals, biological products and medical devices.
This came out when a visiting delegation from the Egypt Drugs Authority paid a courtesy call on Vice President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who is also the Minister of Health and Child Care.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) and the Egypt Drugs Authority set for this Friday is an endorsement of Zimbabwe’s capability in the pharmaceutical industry from the largest producer and consumer of pharmaceuticals in the Middle East and Africa.
“They are coming here so that after going through various other issues tomorrow, there will be a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of Egypt by the Egyptian Drug Authority chairman and the Director General of MCAZ,” noted Dr Chiwenga.
“Generally, we are cooperating in the area of medicines drugs and the control of those drugs so that if they are registered in Egypt, automatically they are registered in Zimbabwe. If we also register something automatically it is acceptable in Egypt,” he added.
Egypt Drug Authority chairperson, Professor Tamer Essam said the agreement, which will be signed in Harare this Friday, is an affirmation of the importance of sustaining efficient regulatory systems as well as ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of medical products.
“What we are going to do is to exchange knowledge and experience from the MCAZ to the Egypt Drugs authority in order to exchange knowledge and make capacity building,” noted Professor Essam.
“Also making good reliance practices between Egypt and Zimbabwe in terms of accepting the medicines approved by the Egyptian regulatory authority and vice versa.
“So, it will be the start to deliver high-quality medicine from Egypt to Zimbabwe and from Zimbabwe to Egypt.”
“It will also enhance the pharmaceutical industries of both countries. We are happy to celebrate the announcement of our corporation which started last June,” he said.
The partnership between Zimbabwe and Egypt in the health sector was mooted in June last year when Vice President Chiwenga visited the North African country and attended the Africa Health Expo, the biggest medical exhibition and conference to be hosted by Egypt.
