Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
THE National Pharmaceutical Company is refurbishing its old warehouse in Harare, a development that will double its storage capacity from 6 000 square metres to 12 000 square metres.
The expanded facility will serve Harare, Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central provinces.
NatPharm regional manager Mr Shaun Zisengwe said the refurbishment was part of efforts to modernise the facility and increase its storage capacity.
“It is a modernising process and also to increase storage capacity. So, once this is completed, it will mostly be doubled from 6 000 to 12 000 square metres,” he said.
The upgraded warehouse would provide both room-temperature and cold-storage facilities, improving NatPharm’s capacity to store medicines under appropriate conditions.
The renovations are expected to be completed by mid-December.
“We have two weekly coordination meetings and we had one yesterday (Monday) and reports indicate that we are meeting the timelines for the project,” he said.
The developments come as Government continues to strengthen the decentralisation of the storage and distribution of medicines across the country.
Chairman of the Portfolio Committee, Mr Discent Bajila, commended Government for the initiative, saying it was consistent with the devolution policy.
“This is commendable and is in sync with the policy of devolution. As a Committee, we are now going to lobby for increased funding to procure adequate medicines for the country,” Mr Bajila said.
Apart from the refurbishment of the Harare facility, NatPharm is also seeking land in Gweru for construction of a new warehouse.
The expansion of storage infrastructure is expected to strengthen the national medicines supply chain by improving storage capacity and supporting more efficient distribution to health facilities.
