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Zambia, like several other developing African countries, is not able to produce and meet most essential drugs to supply its population as the country is largely dependent on medical imports from other countries especially India.
Currently about 80% of the Africa’s continents’ medical & pharmaceutical products are imported. Shortages of medications and lack of products such as vaccines in most African countries during the pandemic, brought into question the sustainability of highly depending on life saving pharmaceutical imports and revealed a gap for which the pharmaceutical industry in Africa can take up.
However, the government of republic of Zambia is trying to reduce costs on the importation of conventional medicine by promoting the setting up of local manufacturing of essential medicines.
The supply chain is also governed by the law – cutting across marketing, authorisation, inspection of facilities, advertising and promotion of postmarketing surveillance. It is requirement under the Act that medicines should be registered if they are intended to be placed on the Zambian market and this is effected through product licencing and marketing authorisation.
At regional and international level, Zambia subscribes to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, an agreement administered by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), setting down minimum standards for the many forms of intellectual property regulations.
Zambia is a member country of the WTO. The African Union has also taken a policy position on local production of generic medicines to make full use of TRIPS. Access to medicines is an issue discussed at continental level I light of the common health challenges in the member countries.
The pharmaceutical industry is Zambia is an important component in the health sector critical to delivering a health and productive population. Kalachi et al (2014) indicated that Zambia has five main manufacturers of pharmaceutical products. The report projected that the local production represents between 10-15% of the demand for pharmaceuticals in Zambia.
Zambia’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry is expanding, and a number of regional businesses manufacture pharmaceutical goods like generic medications, medical equipment, and herbal cures.
This domestic manufacturing intends to lessen the nation’s dependency on pharmaceutical imports.
Zambia still imports a sizable amount of its pharmaceutical goods, including finished pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), while expanding its local manufacturing capabilities.
Developing a strong pharmaceutical industry in Zambia will require the Government to invest in pharmaceutical Research and Development(R&D) facilities coupled with strong partnerships with private sector players in ensuring that Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) are utilized.
ZAMRA responsible for the registration, regulation of pharmacies, registration and regulation of medicines, herbal medicines and allied substances intended for human use and for animal use, regulation and control of the manufacture, importation, exportation, possession, storage, distribution, supply, promotion, sale and use of medicines, herbal medicines and allied substances.
There is a need to offer incentives to attract personal capacity for technical development and expertise among scientists, academia and practitioners in order to encourage the development of human capacity and skills.
Prioritisation of funding towards research and development in clinical research and trials is essential in the development of new knowledge which is key in the pharmaceutical industry and the development of ground breaking treatments.
The low levels of R&D therefore inhibit increased opportunities for collaboration among stakeholders with the pharmaceutical industry, whose role is to scale up and commercialize pharmaceutical products.There is need for increased engagement with development partners and the need to attract private sector financing in the development of clinical research to advance the local pharmaceutical industry.
Price limits and subsidies for necessary medications are just two of the programmes and policies that have been put in place to increase accessibility and affordability.In Zambia, it is important to provide access to necessary medications.
The Zambia pharmaceutical market accounted for $XX Billion in 2023 and is anticipated to reach $XX Billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of XX% from 2024 to 2030.
Streamlining of drug registration
Zambia has joined the ZAZIBONA Collaborative Medicines Registration Process, simplifying and accelerating drug registration for 15 SADC countries.
Launch of the National Essential Medicines List (NEML)
The government has launched a new NEML, which provides guidance on the selection and procurement of essential medicines.
ZAMRA Launches New Online Platform for Drug Registration
The Zambian Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA) has launched a new online platform for drug registration, aiming to streamline the process and improve efficiency. This platform allows pharmaceutical companies to submit applications electronically, track the progress of their applications, and receive updates and decisions directly. This move is expected to reduce processing time and costs for companies, ultimately leading to faster access to essential medicines for patients.
Pharmaceutical Companies Partner to Combat Counterfeit Drugs
Several pharmaceutical companies operating in Zambia have partnered with the government and regulatory authorities to combat the issue of counterfeit drugs. This collaboration involves sharing information, conducting joint investigations, and raising public awareness about the dangers of counterfeit medicines. This initiative aims to protect public health and ensure that patients have access to safe and effective medicines.
Government Launches Initiative to Reduce Healthcare Costs
The Zambian government has launched a new initiative aimed at reducing healthcare costs for citizens. This initiative includes measures such as negotiating lower prices for drugs and medical supplies, promoting generic drugs, and expanding health insurance coverage. This initiative is expected to improve access to healthcare services for low-income families and make essential medicines more affordable.
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