Source: Govt, Pfizer sign landmark health equity Accord – herald
Trust Freddy
Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has formally signed onto the Pfizer Accord for a Healthier World, a high-level agreement designed to provide the nation with equitable access to patented medicines and vaccines on a not-for-profit basis.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora yesterday signed a strategic agreement with Pfizer on behalf of the Government.
The deal, signed alongside Pfizer’s vice president of Global Market Access, Mr Abdelali Belasri, seeks to eliminate the disparity in medical access between Zimbabwe and high-income nations, specifically targeting infectious diseases, oncology and rare inflammatory conditions.
Speaking at the formalisation ceremony held in Harare, Minister Mombeshora said the Accord is a direct implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“This engagement is fully aligned with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, through which we seek to attain upper middle-income economy status by the year 2030,” he said.
“At the centre of this vision is the development of a healthy, productive population supported by efficient, resilient and responsive social services. Health is not merely a sectoral priority—it is a fundamental pillar of national development, economic growth and social transformation.”
A key component of the agreement involves technical co-operation to overhaul the country’s medical distribution network.
Under the terms of the Accord, Zimbabwe will gain access to Pfizer’s portfolio of patented medicines—including those for oncology, infectious diseases and inflammatory conditions—on a not-for-profit basis.
The Accord is expected to provide a sustainable procurement model that protects the national health budget from global market volatility.
“Like many nations, Zimbabwe continues to face challenges in ensuring timely, affordable access to innovative medicines and vaccines. Addressing these challenges requires deliberate collaboration, technical cooperation and sustainable models for procurement and distribution.
“Through this Accord, we look forward not only to expanding access to essential health products, but also to strengthening the systems that guarantee their efficient and equitable delivery to our people.”
He also reaffirmed the commitment of the Second Republic to ensure that the benefits of the Pfizer Accord are felt tangibly across both urban and rural communities.
“Mr vice president, progress in health equity is achieved through sustained partnership, mutual accountability and shared responsibility.
“Zimbabwe, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening governance, improving efficiency and ensuring that the benefits of this collaboration are felt tangibly in communities across our nation.”
Mr Belasri said the organisation’s commitment through the Accord programme is to make all its products, medicines and vaccines available and accessible to the people of Zimbabwe, on a not-for-profit basis, whenever there is a need.
“This is a major step that we hope will enable access to our medicines; however, we know that access is only the first step. We want to work with you to understand your specific needs so that we can co-create solutions to strengthen the health system in Zimbabwe.”
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