NatPharm turns to local manufacturers

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ZIMBABWE’S drug procurement unit, the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm), says it is now prioritising local medicine manufacturing companies to avoid unnecessary imports.
This comes as Billy Rigava, NatPharm’s board chairman, recently said a partnership with local tertiary institutions in the production of Covid-19 tools and equipment had saved the country more than US$4 million in imports.

“NatPharm has over the past few years aligned its operations with national policies and programmes such as the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP). With the promulgation of the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and in line with the reviewed National Health Strategy, the company is prioritising sourcing of medicines and medical supplies from local manufacturers,” the parastatal said in a statement last week.