Online Reporter
Takudzwa Mangrozah-Herald Reporter
THE Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe has met stakeholders from across the pharmaceutical industry to strengthen regulatory processes and promote innovation.
Speaking after the meeting in Harare yesterday, MCAZ public relations officer Mr Davison Kayo said the discussions brought together “community pharmacists, retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, including those from the veterinary side to see how best we can improve the sector in terms of regulatory processes for us to foster innovation and growth”.
He described the engagement as “quite a robust discussion where industry were able to frankly express their desires and also the authority to also be able to state its position”.
The authority valued the open dialogue with industry players.
“We want to appreciate the industry because this stakeholder engagement shows that there is a need for continuous dialogue between the regulator and industry players. That’s only how best we can create a conducive environment for the sector to grow,” Mr Kayo said.
The meeting was part of MCAZ’s broader efforts to strengthen its global standing.
“As you are aware, MCAZ recently attained the Global Benchmarking 2 Maturity Level 3 and we are aiming to attain Maturity Level 4,” he said.
“Stakeholder engagement such as these ones are also key in us attaining that goal.”
Mr Kayo reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to its core mandate of protecting public and animal health, emphasising that “the medicines that are available in the market are safe, effective and of good quality.”
He sought continued dialogue.
“The conversations like these ones need to continue going forward for us to be able to make sure that the mandate of the authority… also be supported by such kinds of discussions and such kind of dialogue,” Mr Kayo said.
