By Kuda Pembere
Players in Zimbabwe’s pharmaceutical sector have welcomed Cabinet’s decision to remove and rationalise a range of regulatory fees, describing the move as long overdue and critical for easing the cost of doing business.
Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday, Information Minister Dr Soda Zhemu said the decision followed proposals presented by Acting Finance Minister Felix Mhona.
“Following comprehensive proposals presented by Hon Felix Mhona as Acting Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Cabinet approved the streamlining of duplicated and overlapping regulatory licences and permits, removal of unnecessary levies and fees, and the reduction of unjustifiably high charges in the health sector,” he said.
Among the key measures announced are the removal of initial registration fees for wholesalers and for pharmaceutical premises and facilities, the scrapping of annual inspection fees for manufacturing and pharmaceutical wholesalers, the removal of initial licence registration fees for retail pharmacies across all locations, and the elimination of annual renewal premises licence fees for retail pharmacies.
Zhemu said the reviewed licences, permits and fees will undergo further refinement, with a comprehensive schedule set to be gazetted.
Community Pharmacists Association chairperson Patrick Munamba said the reforms address a long-standing concern within the sector.
“This has been a long outstanding issue. We have consistently raised concerns about duplication of licensing within the pharmaceutical sector,” he said.
Munamba noted that pharmacists have been dealing with multiple regulators performing similar functions.
“In the pharmaceutical sector, we have been interacting with two, sometimes three regulators, including the Health Professions Authority and the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, where similar processes such as registration and renewals were being duplicated,” he said.
He said the duplication had increased operational costs and, in turn, contributed to higher medicine prices.
“This created a burden on how we practise and ultimately pushed up costs. Streamlining these processes will reduce both financial and time costs,” Munamba said.
He added that beyond fees, there is a need for legislative reform to consolidate pharmaceutical regulation.
“We are looking forward to a framework similar to a Pharmacies Act, where all pharmacy-related issues are contained in one statute. It is not just about money, but also about efficiency and time,” he said.
Munamba also welcomed ongoing digitalisation efforts, saying they could further reduce costs and improve efficiency across the sector.
A local manufacturer, Dothan Moyo described the move as encouraging, saying it would improve the operating environment.
“We are encouraged by Government’s continued efforts to streamline regulatory fees and improve the ease of doing business. We now await the gazetting and implementation of the new fees,” he said.
However, Moyo cautioned that regulatory authorities must remain adequately resourced.
“We trust that despite this streamlining, regulators will still be able to cover their costs and that service delivery will not be negatively impacted,” he said. “Industry still awaits gazetting of previous Cabinet decisions, key being the VAT zero rating of medicines.”
Pharmaceutical wholesalers also welcomed the development, describing it as overdue.
“This is a welcome and overdue move. As wholesalers, we have been overburdened by high regulatory fees and levies, which have affected profitability and medicine prices,” said Pharmaceutical Wholesalers Association chairperson Norman Kugara.
He said the reforms could improve access to affordable medicines.
“We commend the Government for its commitment to improving the business environment. This will likely increase the availability of high-quality and affordable medicines,” Kugara said.
Kugara, however, urged the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) to strengthen oversight in light of the changes.
