HARARE – An eight-member team of World Health Organisation (WHO) experts is in the country for a week’s working visit to assess the country’s capacity to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of medical products under the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ).
The team, led by Mohamed Refaat, a WHO Technical Officer, has also come to facilitate the creation of an institutional development plan that builds on strengths and addresses identified gaps.
In follow-up questions, MCAZ Public Relations Officer Davison Kaiyo said the team is in the country to also “benchmark the status of the regulatory system in the areas of medicine regulation using the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT)”.
“It is a planned assessment,” Kaiyo said.
“The initial assessment happened virtually in August 2021, which made some recommendations, and this visit is a follow-up to that.
“It is to review and document the progress with Institutional Development Plans (IDP) implementation following the last benchmarking mission conducted in August 2021.
“This benchmarking was preceded by two complementary activities namely Observed Audit from 9 to 12 May (Where the team of assessors observed the MCAZ team do inspections in licenced premises) and Vigilance Field visit from 11 to 12 May.”
Kaiyo said the visit by the WHO delegation is also set strengthen regulatory systems by promoting good regulatory practices and facilitating coordination of regulatory systems strengthening efforts.
“The tool also facilitates regulatory reliance and harmonisation, which provide both public health and economic benefits.
“During their stay in Zimbabwe, the team will spend most of its time at the MCAZ offices auditing the regulator’s systems in line with the GBT.
TWITTER: @nkosanad809
