With Brazilian support, Mozambique expands national drug production

Relying on its partnership with Brazil, the Mozambican Medicines Society (SMM) will manage to double its drug production in 2019. The factory currently produces five different types of medication, which include diabetes, hypertension, mental illness and anti-inflammatory drugs, and the list is about to increase.

According to the director of SMM, EvaristoMadime, five other types of medicine could start manufacturing soon, as the governments of the two countries have decided to look for other strategic partnership areas to broaden the portfolio. "The first focus is the production of medicines for the National Health Service, i.e. medicines for use in hospitals. However, little by little we are getting the drugs to the private sector, be it through pharmacies or also through distribution by private health clinics," he explained.

Long-standing partnership

Cooperation between Brazil and Mozambique in the healthcare sector began in 2003, chiefly driven by the high rate of HIV/AIDS infections among the Mozambican population. To help the African country, Brazil is relying on the extensive experience accumulated with the Unified Healthcare System (SUS) and the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). "Technical training-wise, nobody here knew how to produce medicines before, and today we can proudly say that we have Mozambican technicians who know how to produce medicines, who know how to manage the whole medicine production process. We have achieved more than 30,000 hours of capacity building classes over the years," Madime added.

The SMM plant, which went into operation in 2012, was the first 100% public drug factory in Mozambique. In addition to contributing to the training of Mozambicans, the project also benefitted the population by providing medicines to the National Health Service. The latest agreement with SMM, signed with the national government, will allow for the provision of 150 million tablets of paracetamol