The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring people living with disabilities have equitable access to safe, effective and quality-assured medicines and medical products, saying inclusive medicines regulation is critical to protecting public health and improving healthcare outcomes.
Speaking on the sidelines of the National Disability Expo in Masvingo, MCAZ Director-General Richard Tendayi Rukwata said the Authority was strengthening regulatory systems to ensure every medicine, medical device and allied substance available in Zimbabwe meets the highest standards of quality, safety and efficacy for all citizens, including persons with disabilities.
"Every Zimbabwean living with a disability deserves access to medicines and healthcare products that are safe, effective, quality-assured, and responsive to their healthcare needs," he said.
Rukwata stated that disability inclusion was both a human rights imperative and a public health priority.
He said medicines regulation should guarantee that people living with disabilities are not disadvantaged in accessing quality healthcare products.
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"The Authority remains resolute in championing regulatory frameworks that uphold accessibility, equity, and dignity as non-negotiable standards in the medicines supply chain," he said.
Zimbabwe continues to pursue universal health coverage as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery, with disability advocates calling for greater inclusion in all aspects of the health system.
Ensuring access to quality medicines is increasingly viewed as an essential component of protecting the health and dignity of vulnerable groups.
Rukwata said the Authority remained committed to safeguarding public health by ensuring that all medicines and medical products circulating on the Zimbabwean market comply with national regulatory standards.
He stated that strengthening medicines regulation would help build a healthcare system where every Zimbabwean, regardless of disability, has access to safe, effective and quality-assured medical products.
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