By Scoop Reporter
Manufacturing of drugs locally will boost the availability and supply of medicines and medical supplies in the country and its neighbouring countries, Health Minister Sylvia Masebo has said.
Speaking at the launch of the Zambia-European Union Pharmaceutical Manufacturers forum yesterday, Ms Masebo explained that it is about time Zambia stopped depending on imported medicines and medical supplies by focusing on producing them locally.
Ms. has Masebo noted that pharmaceutical industry as a priority part of its post-pandemic approach to increasing health security and its endeavour to promoting private sector driven socio-economic development.
She says there is need to promote Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and other forms of private sector partnerships which have already been identified as key to the ambition.
She says the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) already has extensive experience of promoting investment in the sector.
Happy to see government thinking in those lines.
We can’t keep importing medicine and beat ourselves on chests as we assure ourselves of good Health.