The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), which will result in joint product reviews and inspections to combat substandard and falsified health products moving between the two countries.
MACZ Director General, Richard Rukwata confirmed the development, noting that of late, there was significant movement of substandard and falsified health products between Zimbabwe and South Africa, which has been a major challenge the two regulators were grappling with.
“The MoU between MCAZ and SAHPRA will allow the regulators to develop a cooperative partnership towards making sure there is access to safe, quality, and effective health products in the respective countries,” Rukwata said in a statement.
The director-general said areas of cooperation for MCAZ and SAHPRA will be joint product reviews and inspections to enable efficient access to health products.
“This partnership will also focus on detection and curbing of substandard and falsified health products moving between the two countries, which has of late been a major challenge that the two regulators have identified,” Rukwata said.
“This landmark event marks a significant step towards strengthening the regulatory frameworks of both Zimbabwe and South Africa in the pharmaceutical sector.”
According to Rukwata, the MoU is designed to “facilitate cooperation and collaboration between the two countries in the areas of medicines regulation, quality control, and pharmacovigilance.”
SAHPRA CEO, Dr Boitumelo Semete-Makokotlela added the two regulator’s partnership will improve and expand capacity on the continent because such collaborations are critical for people’s health.
“The forging of partnerships such as this MoU with the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe, a fellow African National Regulatory Authority, is key to further enhancing and building capacity on the continent”, said Dr Semete-Makokotlela in a statement.
