Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe

06/10/2026

MCAZ Strengthens Efforts to Protect the Public in Bulawayo

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) conducted a clean-up campaign in Bulawayo during the National Clean-up Campaign, last Friday as part of ongoing efforts to promote compliance with medicines regulatory requirements and protect the public from unsafe, substandard or unregistered products.

Follow the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8I673AYlUSTAPqbQ06

Among the concerns identified during the exercise was the sale of unregistered medicines at some polyclinics, including injectable products. The campaign also noted the sale of various herbal products on the streets accompanied by claims about their ability to treat or cure different ailments.

MCAZ reminds members of the public that medicines and other health products must meet applicable regulatory requirements before they are placed on the market. Health-related claims associated with products must also be supported by appropriate evidence and comply with regulatory requirements.

Members of the public are encouraged to obtain medicines and health products from authorised and reputable sources and to report suspected illegal or unregistered medicines to MCAZ.

Protecting public health is a shared responsibility. When in doubt, check before you buy.

Follow the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8I673AYlUSTAPqbQ06

05/10/2026

Happy Customer Service Week

02/10/2026

Zimbabwe Strengthens Pharmacovigilance and Patient Safety Systems

The MCAZ, the National Pharmacovigilance Centre for Zimbabwe, convened stakeholders from across the health sector for a Stakeholders’ Consultative Workshop under the African Union Smart Safety Surveillance (AU-3S) Project, supported through an AUDA-NEPAD grant.

The workshop brought together stakeholders to review progress, share findings and strengthen Zimbabwe’s systems for monitoring the safety of medicines and vaccines, with a particular focus on the reporting, investigation and management of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs).

As the National Pharmacovigilance Centre, MCAZ coordinates national pharmacovigilance activities and plays a central role in collecting, assessing and monitoring safety information on medicines and vaccines to support regulatory and public health action.

The workshop reviewed key outcomes of the project, including:

🔹 Enhanced pharmacovigilance capacity: Training of Trainers conducted across all 10 provinces to strengthen capacity for medicines and vaccine safety monitoring.

🔹 Improved safety reporting: Assessment of barriers faced by healthcare professionals in reporting ADRs and AEFIs, with recommendations to improve the quality, completeness and timeliness of safety reports.

🔹 Stronger Hospital Medicines and Therapeutics Committees (HMTCs): Strengthening the functionality of HMTCs as an important component of medicines safety and rational use within health facilities.

🔹 Facility-level safety monitoring: Strengthening monitoring of the safety of medicines and vaccines at hospital and clinic level.

🔹 Monitoring and evaluation: Assessing the impact of project interventions through monitoring and evaluation visits, including VigiGrade completeness scores and signal management.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to consider key findings and recommendations from the project and provide feedback to inform the continued strengthening of Zimbabwe’s pharmacovigilance system.

A key objective of the initiative is to support the establishment of functional HMTCs, with signed Terms of Reference (ToRs), in public and private hospitals and clinics.

For MCAZ, pharmacovigilance is an integral part of protecting public health. The safety monitoring of medicines and vaccines continues throughout their use, helping to identify emerging safety concerns and enabling appropriate regulatory and public health action.

Patient safety is a shared responsibility. Healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders all have an important role to play by reporting suspected adverse events and supporting the continuous monitoring of medicines and vaccines.

MCAZ: Protecting your right to quality medicines and medical devices

02/10/2026

IN THE NEWS

Strengthening Medical Products Regulation in Zimbabwe

ZBC News Online

30/09/2026

The SADC Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (MRH) Initiative invites pharmaceutical industry representatives and other stakeholders to the 2026 ZAZIBONA Product Evaluation Quality Circle, taking place on 5–6 November 2026 at Protea Hotel by Marriott Johannesburg Balalaika, Sandton, South Africa.

Join us for technical capacity building, regulatory updates and regulator–industry discussions on product evaluation and the ZAZIBONA Collaborative Procedure.

Register by 19 October 2026 using the link or QR code on the flyer.

For enquiries, contact [email protected], copying [email protected].

25/09/2026

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) joined the Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council Mash East Province Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC) in commemorating World Contraception Day on 25 September 2026 at the ZNFPC Spilhaus Centre in Harare.
As the national medicines regulatory authority, MCAZ used the occasion to demonstrate its Condom Air Inflation Test, a quality assurance procedure conducted in its Medical Devices Laboratory to determine the bursting volume and bursting pressure of condoms. This test forms part of a broader suite of quality assurance procedures the Authority undertakes to verify that medical devices, including condoms, available on the Zimbabwean market meet required safety and performance standards. Through its participation, MCAZ reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by ensuring that medicines and medical devices in circulation are safe, effective, and of assured quality.

Ministry of Health and Child Care
ZNFPC, Harare Central Hospital
Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council

25/09/2026

25/09/2026

World Pharmacists Day

24/09/2026

🐄💊 CLOSING THE GAP IN VETERINARY MEDICINES

A strong veterinary medicines supply chain is essential for protecting animal health, public health and food safety.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) is bringing together stakeholders across the veterinary sector for a Veterinary Medicines Stakeholder Virtual Meeting to discuss practical solutions to challenges affecting the distribution and supply of veterinary medicines.

The discussion will focus on:

🔹 Gaps in the veterinary medicines distribution and supply chain
🔹 Curbing the illicit distribution of veterinary products, including PPs
🔹 Strengthening collaboration among veterinary sector stakeholders
🔹 Promoting responsible access and distribution of veterinary medicines
🔹 Contributing to efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR)

📅 25 September 2026
🕘 09:30 AM
💻 Virtual Meeting

Are you a stakeholder in the veterinary medicines sector? Be part of the conversation.

📲 Register via WhatsApp: 0718 855 934

Share this invitation with other relevant players in the veterinary sector.

Details: Follow the MCAZ WhatsApp Channel https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8I673AYlUSTAPqbQ06

17/09/2026

fans