Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
THE National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) has intensified the implementation of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy, with major investments in infrastructure and technology aimed at ensuring the reliable delivery of medicines to the last mile.
NatPharm managing director Mr Newman Madzikwa said the strategy is anchored in expanding warehouse capacity, enhancing local manufacturing, and introducing advanced tracking systems to guarantee that medicines reach patients where they are most needed.
“The main structure of the National Pharmaceutical Strategy is to ensure that we deliver to the last mile where the patient requires the medicine. We are going to build it on advanced technology to ensure that we can check and trace our products as they enter the country and when they are finally used by the patient,” he said.
The National Pharmaceutical Strategy, adopted by the Government as part of broader health sector reforms, seeks to ensure that essential medicines and health commodities are consistently available, affordable, and of assured quality.
It aligns with Zimbabwe’s vision of attaining universal health coverage (UHC), where every citizen has access to the medicines they need without facing financial hardship.
By strengthening the supply chain and local production, the strategy is also expected to reduce dependence on imports and improve resilience against global supply disruptions.
A key component of this strategy is the construction of new warehouses, aimed at reducing NatPharm’s reliance on outsourced storage facilities.
The company, which procures medicines and medical supplies for all public health institutions and mission hospitals in Zimbabwe, requires proper storage to maintain the safety and quality of its supplies. Currently, NatPharm operates six warehouses located in Harare, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Gweru, Masvingo, and another completed recently in Mutare.
NatPharm is also in the process of renovating its regional stores in Harare and is scouting for additional space in other provinces to bring warehouses closer to patients and reduce delays in drug distribution.
“We want to have warehouses in each province to ensure that products are nearer to where patients are. This will minimise the time it takes for medicines to reach communities, especially in remote areas,” Mr Madzikwa said.
Beyond warehousing, NatPharm is laying the groundwork for a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant that is expected to close supply chain gaps and contribute to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation and regional integration agenda.
“We are currently looking for a space, ideally close to Harare for logistical purposes. The vision is not only to serve Zimbabwe but also to support the region and the continent at large,” he said.
He noted that the new facilities would be equipped with modern IT systems to improve efficiency and stock management. These include barcode-based tracking mechanisms to speed up stock-taking, reduce losses, and ensure transparency in the distribution process.
“We are putting in place mechanisms that will confirm delivery of products right where they are supposed to be. We will be able to track a product even while it is in transit. If a truck diverts from its route, the system will pick it up, and once the product arrives at a health facility, we will receive real-time confirmation,” Mr Madzikwa added.
He noted that the reforms extend beyond infrastructure as NatPharm is capacitating its workforce to strengthen efficiency.
The investments also come as the Government pushes for improved access to essential medicines and reduced dependence on imports, in line with national health priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.
