Online Reporter
Consistent supply and availability of medicines in public health institutions has long been a concern for many Zimbabweans. Stockouts in clinics and hospitals have often left patients stranded, while challenges in the supply chain have slowed delivery to communities that need medicines the most. Our reporter RUMBIDZAYI ZINYUKE recently sat down with National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) managing director MR NEWMAN MADZIKWA to discuss several issues, including current medicine availability and the infrastructure and technology investments being rolled out to strengthen the national pharmaceutical supply chain.
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Q: Can you give us an overview of the current state of medicine availability in the country?
A: At the moment, we have adequate stocks in critical areas, such as HIV treatment. With support from the National AIDS Council and the Ministry of Health and Child Care, we have secured supplies that will last until the end of the year. Procurement for the first half of 2026 is also expected to commence soon, which means we foresee no challenges with HIV, TB and malaria commodities.
Q: As we enter the rainy season, which often coincides with an increase in cholera cases, how prepared are you to respond to potential outbreaks?
A: We have already started bringing in essential commodities to strengthen preparedness.
These include aqua tabs, normal saline and other key supplies, which will be distributed across provinces. This ensures that if outbreaks occur, health facilities will be ready to respond quickly.
Q: Drug stockouts have been a concern in hospitals and clinics. What measures are you taking to monitor supply chains and prevent shortages?
A: The main challenge we face is not necessarily the supply chain itself, but the financial constraints within the fiscal space. Despite this, we continue to monitor the entire pipeline, from procurement to delivery, to optimise the use of available resources.
We are also strengthening systems to minimise pilferage and ensure that products reach the intended facilities.
Q: What technologies are being introduced to support these systems?
A: We are implementing a check-and-trace mechanism, in collaboration with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). This system will allow us to track products from source to end-user, improving visibility and reducing the risk of counterfeit medicines.
We are also enhancing our enterprise resource planning system to provide real-time information, including point-of-delivery notifications. This will enable us to confirm when products have reached their final destination.
Q: NatPharm signed several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with other countries. How are these progressing?
A: The MoUs are progressing well. One of the major outcomes will be the establishment of local manufacturing plants.
Through build-operate-transfer models, we will partner with companies from these agreements to gradually build Zimbabwe’s manufacturing capacity.
Our goal is to become fully fledged producers of essential medicines within the next five to 10 years.
Q: How has the Mutare warehouse improved the efficiency of medicine distribution, particularly given its proximity to the port of Beira?
A: The Mutare warehouse has been instrumental. Beyond supplying clinics in Manicaland, it is also used as a transit hub for shipments arriving from Beira.
From there, we use our haulage fleet to transfer consignments to Bulawayo, Masvingo, Harare and Chinhoyi.
This reduces turnaround times for offloading containers, helping us avoid demurrage charges at the port.
Q: The National Pharmaceutical Strategy is key to all these developments. What is the main focus of the strategy and how is it being implemented?
A: The strategy is built around the principle of delivering medicines to the last mile, where the patient needs them most. We are leveraging advanced technology to trace products from entry into the country right through to the point they are dispensed to the patient.
Q: How do the planned infrastructure investments align with Zimbabwe’s broader healthcare goals?
A: There are two key areas of alignment. Firstly, ensuring sufficient commodity storage to strengthen national health security. Secondly, building manufacturing capacity locally so that Zimbabwe reduces reliance on imports. Both objectives support the broader goal of achieving universal access to healthcare.
Q: Can you share more details on the warehouses and distribution hubs being developed?
A: We recently completed the Mutare warehouse and are now focusing on upgrading the Harare regional store. Plans are also underway to establish additional warehouses in other provinces. The objective is to bring medicines closer to patients, reducing delivery times and ensuring timely access to treatment.
Q: What new technologies are being introduced in these facilities to improve efficiency?
A: We are adopting IT (information technology) systems that improve stock visibility and speed up processes such as stock-taking through barcode technology.
Tracking systems will also enable us to monitor deliveries in real-time, even while in transit. For instance, if a delivery truck diverts from its route, we will immediately be alerted.
Once products reach a health facility, we will receive instant confirmation. This level of monitoring will significantly improve efficiency and accountability.
Q: Beyond infrastructure, what other reforms are you working on to improve access to essential medicines?
A: Reforms extend to human resources. We are investing in capacity building so that staff fully understand the role they play in the bigger picture.
At the same time, we are refining our business model to strengthen sustainability. Our ambition is to transform NatPharm into a resilient and efficient service provider that contributes to Zimbabwe’s vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Tinaye Agere