Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to strengthen medicine safety, eliminate counterfeit and unregistered drugs from the market and position itself among Africa's leading pharmaceutical regulators as the country seeks to protect public health and build confidence in its healthcare system.

The push comes at a critical time when African countries are battling the growing circulation of falsified medicines, rising antimicrobial resistance and increasing demand for stronger oversight of pharmaceutical products entering local markets.

Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the country must now move beyond its current achievements and strengthen regulatory systems capable of responding to emerging public health threats while safeguarding consumers.

Zimbabwe's medicines regulatory framework has gained international recognition in recent years after attaining

World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level Three status, a benchmark reserved for regulators that demonstrate stable and well-functioning systems for overseeing medicines and medical products.

However, the Ministry said the next priority is achieving WHO Maturity Level Four, a status associated with advanced regulatory performance and international confidence in medicines oversight.

Dr Mombeshora said attaining that level would position Zimbabwe as a trusted reference regulator within the region while strengthening the country's capacity to protect citizens from unsafe, ineffective and falsified medicines.

Among the immediate priorities identified by the Ministry are stopping the circulation of unregistered medicines, tackling antimicrobial resistance and strengthening measures against counterfeit pharmaceutical products.

The Ministry is also moving towards establishing a clearer regulatory pathway for traditional medicines as demand for alternative and indigenous health products continues to grow.

"You are not a ceremonial body. You are the statutory governance structure responsible for oversight, policy direction and accountability of this critical regulatory agency," Dr Mombeshora said while outlining expectations for the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe.

The Minister said regulatory excellence would be critical in ensuring that medicines reaching Zimbabwean consumers meet internationally recognised standards of quality, safety and efficacy.

.Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe board chairperson Dr Clifford Chiura said maintaining public confidence in the country's medicines regulatory system would remain a key priority.

"As the newly appointed Board, we are committed to providing strategic oversight, promoting good corporate governance, strengthening regulatory excellence and supporting management in advancing the Authority's mandate. We fully appreciate the significance of maintaining public confidence in the national medicines regulatory system," he said.

The  Minisrery have repeatedly warned that counterfeit and substandard medicines remain one of the biggest threats facing healthcare systems globally, particularly in developing countries where regulatory authorities are under increasing pressure to monitor expanding pharmaceutical markets.

The World Health Organisation estimates that falsified and substandard medical products continue to account for significant health risks in low- and middle-income countries, undermining treatment outcomes and placing lives at risk

For Zimbabwe, strengthening medicines regulation is increasingly being viewed not only as a health issue but also as a strategic national priority linked to public safety, healthcare quality and pharmaceutical sector growth.

As authorities push for higher international regulatory standards, the focus is expected to remain on ensuring that every medicine reaching patients is safe, effective and properly regulated, while positioning Zimbabwe as a key player in medicines oversight across the region.