THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Health and Child Care has announced a series of site visits to National Pharmaceutical Company (Natpharm) depots across the country after revelations of its dire state.
The decision follows two weeks of oral evidence presented by the Health and Child Care ministry and Natpharm officials, which exposed deep financial distress, mounting debts and operational constraints at the parastatal responsible for supplying medicine to public hospitals.
Lawmakers said the visits would help to verify the extent of the challenges and guide recommendations aimed at stabilising the critical health institution.
Committee chairperson and Emakhandeni-Luveve legislator Descent Bajila painted a picture of a parastatal under severe strain.
Natpharm owes millions of United States dollars, as shocking revelations indicated that its sole shareholder, the Government of Zimbabwe, is its biggest debtor.
Unpaid government obligations have crippled the company’s ability to procure medicines and pay suppliers.
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Bajila said recent changes in United States government foreign funding had disrupted Natpharm’s storage revenue stream, further weakening its operations.
Zimbabwe in the past relied on donor-supported programmes that contributed to warehousing and logistics, and their suspension left a significant funding gap.
“A functional Natpharm is not a luxury — it is a strategic necessity for Zimbabwe’s health security, economic resilience and industrial growth,” Bajila said.
“A strong local pharmaceutical sector ensures reliable access to essential medicines, reduces dependence on imports, stabilises prices and strengthens our response to public health emergencies.
“It also creates skilled jobs, promotes research and innovation and supports value addition within our economy.”
The committee framed Natpharm’s revival as central to both national and global development goals.
Bajila noted that the vision aligns directly with Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 1 (No Poverty) by cutting healthcare costs and easing financial burden on households.
He added that the National Development Strategy 2 prioritises strengthening local production capacity, advancing industrialisation and improving health systems.
A revitalised Natpharm sits at the intersection of these priorities, delivering both health and economic returns.
Bajila said the way forward demanded more than rhetoric.
“The path forward requires deliberate investment, strong regulatory frameworks, public-private partnerships and sustained political will. Building pharmaceutical sovereignty today secures Zimbabwe’s future,” he said.
Natpharm is the country’s central medical procurement and supply agency, responsible for sourcing, storing and distributing essential medicines and vaccines to public hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Its effective functioning is critical to preventing drug stockouts and ensuring equitable access to healthcare.
However, the parastatal has long struggled with chronic underfunding, governance challenges and mounting debts.