Universities venture into pharmaceuticals production

A consortium of Zimbabwean universities is at the forefront of a national initiative to reduce the country's pharmaceutical import bill by boosting local production of essential medicines. The effort has led to the establishment of Biotech Pharmaceuticals, a start-up company forming a central pillar of the Government's strategy to cut reliance on imported drugs from US$220 million in 2020 to an expected US$100 million by the end of 2025.

Professor Florence Mtambanengwe, Executive Director of Research, Innovation and Industrialisation at the University of Zimbabwe, shared the progress during the recent Association of Health Funders of Zimbabwe Conference in Victoria Falls. She explained that the consortium includes the University of Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Harare Institute of Technology, and the National Biotechnology Authority.

The partners have moved beyond planning into implementation, with each institution focusing on a specific area. Chinhoyi University is handling vaccine production, which has already commenced, while Harare Institute of Technology is producing injectables. The University of Zimbabwe will focus on solids and intravenous fluids, with production expected to begin within the next three months. The National Biotechnology Authority is concentrating on biosimilars. According to Prof Mtambanengwe, this coordinated approach ensures the consortium covers a broad spectrum of essential medicines, from basic tablets and life-saving injectables to complex biological drugs.

Supporting infrastructure is also being developed. At the University of Zimbabwe's Industrial Park, construction of a pharmaceutical manufacturing plant is expected to begin in the coming months, with Government funding already promised and additional partnerships being sought. Prof Mtambanengwe noted that the innovation hub model is being replicated across the country's higher education sector, with at least seven universities currently operating hubs and plans to establish them in all 13 state universities. She emphasised the autonomy universities enjoy in pursuing initiatives independently, noting that authorisation is only required at the industrialisation stage.

The academic-led initiative is supported by the Government under the Zimbabwe Industrial Reconstruction and Growth Plan (2024–2025), which aims to reduce the medical import bill by at least US$100 million by the end of the year. Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, reaffirmed Government backing for the project. He highlighted measures designed to sustain growth in the pharmaceutical sector, including providing funding to Natpharm, ensuring uptake of locally produced drugs by public and private agencies, establishing a Pharmaceutical Revolving Fund to offer affordable financing, reinstating VAT zero-rating on pharmaceutical products, and developing local drug testing capabilities to reduce reliance on imports.

Dr Muswere said these interventions were essential for increasing local production, boosting investor confidence, and ensuring the commercial viability of emerging companies like Biotech Pharmaceuticals. The combined efforts of academic innovation, targeted industrial strategy, and supportive Government policy mark a transformative moment for Zimbabwe, positioning the country to improve health security, conserve foreign currency, and build a foundation for a knowledge-based economy.