adminRumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
Zimbabwe is making significant progress towards achieving universal health coverage on the back of strengthened healthcare systems and regulatory frameworks.
This follows the acknowledgement of the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe by the World Health Organisation as a Maturity Level 3 medicines and vaccines (non-producing) regulator.
The country became the sixth African country to be certified after Tanzania in 2018, Ghana 2020, and Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt, all in 2022, after comprehensive assessment and the successful implementation of critical recommendations by the WHO. WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti said the benchmarking of the national regulatory system was first conducted in 2021 and finalised in May 2024.
“This is an important step forward by Zimbabwe, which reflects commitment to strengthening health systems and regulatory frameworks to increase access to quality medicines and medical supplies, and to help accelerate progress towards universal health coverage,” said Dr Moeti.
Regulatory authorities that reach maturity levels 3 and 4 are considered eligible for inclusion among WHO-listed authorities, after additional evaluation of their performance.
This achievement is the result of investment by the Government of Zimbabwe in the strengthening of its regulatory system and will also contribute to future operationalisation of the African Medicine Agency,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products.
MCAZ director-general, Dr Richard Rukwata said achieving Maturity Level 3 underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards in public health protection through rigorous regulatory oversight.
Online Reporter