DOMESTIC drug makers said this week serious funding gaps were undermining ambitions to ramp up production to stem forex guzzling imports.
According to the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (ZIRGP), a blueprint unveiled by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, localised production could save up to US$75 million annually.
The country is estimated to have imported about US$250 million worth of drugs in the past six years, as headwinds pummel local manufacturers.
In an interview with businessdigest, Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Zimbabwe (PMAZ) chairman Shepherd Mudzingwa, said many drugs could easily be produced locally.
“The members of PMAZ have sufficient capacity to meet all essential medicine needs of the country except the parenteral sterile preparations,” Mudzingwa said.
“Our members stand ready to increase the production of essential medicines as soon as access to funding is available. Huge potential exists since we are currently operating at below 50% of our capabilities."
“With adequate funding, support for registration timelines, and product uptake from NatPharm, the availability of existing product lines can be guaranteed in the short-term, with new ranges introduced in the medium to long-term.”
Public hospitals have battled serious drug shortages, triggering an eruption of corruption, along with a dangerous black market.
- Local drug makers bemoan funding gaps
Keep Reading
However, government says it plans to establish a revolving fund to support producers.
Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is currently producing about 300 out of a potential 1 500 product lines.
Under ZIRGP, NatPharm, the state-owned drug procurement entity, would be directed to prioritise these locally-produced medicines.
Mudzingwa said boosting production could reduce manufacturing costs and drug prices.
“It is definitely not easy to remain competitive in the face of the economic headwinds that sometimes persist in our operating environment.
“However, we always aim to increase our production capacities to lower costs and pass on the benefits to patients. Imports are often cheaper because they benefit from large scale production in their countries of origin,” he noted.
Mudzingwa emphasised that higher production would create employment opportunities.
“If we can increase our production capacities, it means expanding our labour base, employing more skilled and unskilled workers,” Mudzingwa said.
“The downstream industry will also benefit, including packaging material manufacturers and suppliers of laboratory reagents.”
