Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, Health and Gender Editor
INDIA remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s health sector by offering expert knowledge in the medical field as well as supplying various medicines and pharmaceuticals amid indications that at least 500 Zimbabweans visit India annually for medical tourism.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe-India Business Session at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Mr Bramha Kumar hinted that India is considering setting up pharmaceutical manufacturing industries locally.
“Indian health sector and bilateral ties are moving side by side, so the health sector is a very important side of our relations, as you know that our relations are cordial, strong and steadfast.
“We are also co-operating at the multilateral level in the United Nations, so in terms of health care, we offer Zimbabwe very affordable, cost-effective solutions in the sector. Every year, more than 500 Zimbabweans are travelling to India for medical tourism and they get their treatment,” said Amb Kumar.
Health tourism has grown over the past few years as local people visit countries like India, South Africa, United Kingdom and others to seek high-tech medical care that is currently unavailable in Zimbabwe.
He said a key area where Zimbabwe and India continue to partner is the pharmaceutical industry.
“Pharmaceuticals are a major export component from India that are coming here and we are trying to expand it. We have supplied some medicines like Tuberculosis medications and other emergency medical health.
“During the Covid-19 era India gave 10 state-of-the-art ambulances to Zimbabwe and medicines worth US$2 million and we will continue to do that.
“As the ambassador, I have been trying to engage the Minister of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe and try to create more ways to co-operate in the health care sector,” he added. ZimTrade director of operations Mr Similo Nkala also spoke on the importance of growth of the pharmaceutical industry locally through co-operation of the Indian Government.
“There are a lot of opportunities that exist between Zimbabwe and India and you find out that most of our exports to India are primary products that include tobacco and the iron and steel ores, but we believe that there is a need for us to partner with the Indians so that there is value addition of these products.
“We know that on the import side, the top products are pharmaceuticals and we believe that there is a lot of potential for India to come to Zimbabwe to partner with local pharmaceutical companies.
“They also can establish manufacturing plants here so that they can take advantage of our strategic location in Africa, we are more like the heart of southern Africa, so when they invest here, they will be able to export their products to the rest of SADC and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa),” he said.
Mr Nkala said the downward benefits also include the supply of pharmaceutical products to hospitals in the country.
He added that India made significant strides in the area of medical research and management, which will benefit Zimbabwean medical practitioners in treating specific conditions if the two countries create a conducive environment for the training of locals.
— @NyembeziMu
