The Sunday Mail
Norman Muchemwa
Government is injecting $60 million into the National Pharmaceutical Company to enhance the Health and Child Care Ministry’s capacity to ensure access to affordable critical drugs as per President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s pledge two weeks ago.
NatPharm MD Mrs Flora Sifeku said, “The current proposal points to $60 million. Resources are being mobilised so that this money is availed, preferably in foreign currency.
“Local currency does not assist NatPharm in any way as manufacturers or suppliers need to be paid in foreign currency. Government is committed to making NatPharm a viable organisation through injection of foreign currency for uninterrupted procurement of supplies.”
Tenders for drugs worth $60 million have been floated, while others worth $42 million are being evaluated by the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe.
Beyond the $60 million injection from Government, Mrs Sifeku said NatPharm required $10 million monthly to stabilise the sector, as well as support in buying raw materials.
“The range of medicines and medical supplies NatPharm is expected to stock is so huge such that it would take a while for the organisation to be fully stocked. It requires a year of continuous allocation of foreign currency to attain stability,” explained Mrs Sifeku.
Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe president Mr Portifa Mwendera said reviving NatPharm was the way to go.
“Key to the resolution of the current crisis is the need to firstly capacitate NatPharm to be able to import and distribute adequately for the public sector so that we cater for the majority of our population through the public sector facilities,” he said.
