Government is looking to bridge the gap in the availability of essential medicines in public health institutions through Zimbabwe’s participation in the Pfizer Accord for a Healthier World, with current medicine availability standing at approximately 54% against a national target of at least 80%.
Speaking at the official opening of the National Kick-off Workshop to operationalise Zimbabwe’s participation in the Pfizer Accord in Harare, today, Health and Child Care Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora, said the partnership presented an opportunity to improve access to affordable medicines while strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical system.
“A health system cannot be resilient if patients cannot obtain the medicines they need, when they need them, at a cost they can afford.
Government therefore continues to intensify efforts to improve the availability, affordability and equitable distribution of essential medicines,” he said.
He said the current availability of medicines in public health facilities remained below the national target, highlighting the need to strengthen procurement, financing, regulation and supply chain management.
“Sometimes, our patients are told that the doctor is available, the pharmacist is available, but unfortunately the medicine is not available! We must close that gap,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Zimbabwe signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Pfizer in February 2026 under the Accord for a Healthier World, which was launched in May 2022 to address inequalities in access to medicines and vaccines in lower-income countries.
Through the initiative, Pfizer makes available a range of patented medicines and vaccines, including current and future products for which it holds global rights, on a not-for-profit basis.
Dr Mombeshora said the arrangement could improve access to innovative treatments for priority conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and infectious diseases.
He, however, clarified that not-for-profit pricing did not mean medicines would be provided free of charge.
“Not-for-profit pricing does not mean medicines are free. Rather, it provides an opportunity to improve affordability within sustainable national financing arrangements.
The Accord must complement, not replace, Government’s responsibility to ensure access to essential medicines,” he said.
The Minister said the success of the partnership would depend on practical implementation, transparency, reliable supplies and measurable improvements in patient care.
“We have become very good at signing agreements and holding workshops. But, as we all know, a medicine cannot treat a patient simply because its name appears in a Memorandum of Understanding! The real work begins now, and our success must be measured by what reaches the patient,” he said.
Meanwhile, Government would also strengthen NatPharm’s procurement and distribution capacity, reinforce the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe’s regulatory oversight and promote local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The partnership would be implemented in line with national disease priorities and the country’s broader health sector objectives under Vision 2030, NDS2 and the National Health Strategy 2026–2030.
