Zimbabwe engages SA over drugs transportation

Local pharmaceutical firms are set to benefit from the on-going negotiations between the government and South Africa regarding the trade of medical drugs as locally manufactured products are being transported by air which makes them uncompetitive.

The negotiations between officials from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce with South African trade officials regarding the trade of pharmaceutical products are underway with officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care have been roped in.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mike Bimha said the negotiations are around the transportation of locally manufactured products which are allowed into South Africa if they only use air transport.

Locally manufactured drugs were expensive in the South African market considering the nature of transport while Zimbabwe allowed South African pharmaceutical products to enter the country even by road transport which is cheaper.

Analysts believe that reaching an agreement on the mode of transport for pharmaceuticals reduces the burden on locally produced products which faced stiff competition on the regional market.