Unveiling the Absence of a Local Medical Device and Biomaterials Manufacturing Industry in Zimbabwe: A Literature Review
Abstract
Medical devices and biomaterials play pivotal roles in the provision of healthcare and advancements in medicine. Zimbabwe, a low-income country in Southern Africa, faces resource constraints while combating both communicable and non-communicable diseases, which significantly contribute to the nation’s disease burden. The lack of a medical device and biomaterials manufacturing industry in Zimbabwe is a critical issue with profound implications for the country’s healthcare system and economic development. This literature review comprehensively examines the current state of medical device and biomaterials manufacturing in Zimbabwe, focusing on historical perspectives, health infrastructure, challenges, and the importance of establishing a local manufacturing industry. By analyzing barriers and constraints hindering industry growth and conducting international comparisons, successful strategies implemented by other countries are explored. Additionally, the review investigates ongoing research and development efforts, including collaborations between academic institutions and industries in the medical technology field. Furthermore, the impact of existing government policies and initiatives on the growth of the medical device and biomaterials manufacturing sector is evaluated. The review emphasizes the significance of a local manufacturing industry, as it enhances healthcare accessibility, reduces dependency on imports, and unlocks potential economic benefits. By identifying potential opportunities and providing recommendations for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders, this study advocates concerted efforts to address challenges and capitalize on growth opportunities in this critical sector. The call to action seeks to foster collaboration among relevant stakeholders to support the development of a thriving medical device and biomaterials manufacturing industry in Zimbabwe, ultimately contributing to improved healthcare outcomes and overall national progress.
2. Allen L, Williams J, Townsend N, Mikkelsen B, Roberts N, Foster C, et al. Socioeconomic status and non-communicable disease behavioural risk factors in low-income and lower-middle-income countries: a systematic review. Lancet Glob Health. 2017;5(3):e277–89.
3. Gwatidzo SD, Murambinda PK, Makoni Z. Medicines counterfeiting in Africa: a view from Zimbabwe. Med Access Point Care. 2017;1:maapoc-0000017.
4. Ndomondo-Sigonda M, Miot J, Naidoo S, Dodoo A, Kaale E. Medicines regulation in Africa: current state and opportunities. Pharm Med. 2017;31:383–97.
5. Ngoma G. What determines import demand in Zimbabwe? Evidence from a gravity model. Cogent Econ Finance. 2020;8(1):1782129.
6. Simate GS, Ndlovu S, Iyuke SE, Walubita LF. Biotechnology and nanotechnology: A means for sustainable development in Africa. Chem Sustain Dev Afr. 2013;159–91.
7. Nyoni T. Exports and imports in Zimbabwe: recent insights from artificial neural networks. 2019;
8. Nyazema NZ. The Zimbabwe Crisis and the provision of social services: health and education. J Dev Soc. 2010;26(2):233–61.
9. Mhazo AT, Maponga CC. The political economy of health financing reforms in Zimbabwe: a scoping review. Int J Equity Health. 2022 Mar 27;21(1):42.
10. Mashizha TM, Mapuva J. THE COLONIAL LEGISLATION, CURRENT STATE OF RURAL AREAS IN ZIMBABWE AND REMEDIAL MEASURES TAKEN TO PROMOTE RURAL DEVELOPMENT. J Asian Afr Soc Sci Humanit. 2018;4(3):22–35.
11. Kidia KK. The future of health in Zimbabwe. Glob Health Action. 2018;11(1):1496888.
12. Chigudu S. The political life of an epidemic: cholera, crisis and citizenship in Zimbabwe. Cambridge University Press; 2020.
13. Chevo T, Bhatasara S. HIV and AIDS programmes in Zimbabwe: implications for the health system. Int Sch Res Not. 2012;2012.
14. Kanyenze G. Beyond the enclave: Towards a pro-poor and inclusive development strategy for Zimbabwe. African Books Collective; 2011.
15. Chikukwa W. Democratising Africa, American sanctions on Zimbabwe. 2017;
16. Dzinamarira T, Musuka G. Brain drain: An ever-present; significant challenge to the Zimbabwean public health sector. Public Health Pract. 2021;2:100086.
17. Tivatyi KS, Shou JM, N’Souvi K. Study on import and export-led economic growth: Cases of Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe in Southern Africa. Open J Bus Manag. 2022;10(2):670–700.
18. Organization WH. Medical devices and eHealth solutions: Compendium of innovative health technologies for low-resource settings 2011-2012. World Health Organization; 2013.
19. THE LOCALISATION OF MEDICAL MANUFACTURING IN AFRICA The Institute for Economic Justice. 2022;(November).
20. World Heallth Organization. Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe - Vaccine Safety [Internet]. 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/teams/regulation-prequalification/regulation-and-safety/pharmacovigilance/vaccine-safety-net/vsn-members/medicines-control-authority-of-zimbabwe---vaccine-safety
21. Price R. Impacts of COVID-19 regulatory measures on small-scale and informal trade in Zimbabwe. 2020;
22. Chiku C, Maruta T, Mbiba F, Manasa J. Regulation of Medical Devices in Zimbabwe: A qualitative study with key stakeholders [Internet]. Public and Global Health; 2023 Jun [cited 2023 Jul 5]. Available from: http://medrxiv.org/lookup/doi/10.1101/2023.06.07.23291092
23. Truscott R. Zimbabwe’s health challenges. Bmj. 2009;338.
24. Claborn DM. A narrative review of the role of economic crisis on health and healthcare infrastructure in three disparate national environments. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(4):1252.
25. Nyabani P. Epidemiological transition and the dual burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases in Zimbabwe. Int J Noncommunicable Dis. 2021;6(4):166–71.
26. Furusa SS, Coleman A. Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe. South Afr J Inf Manag. 2018;20(1):1–9.
27. Dalal S, Beunza JJ, Volmink J, Adebamowo C, Bajunirwe F, Njelekela M, et al. Non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa: what we know now. Int J Epidemiol. 2011;40(4):885–901.
28. KPMG. Life Sciences in Africa with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa [Internet]. Life Sciences in Africa with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. Available from: https://www2.deloitte.com/za/en/pages/life-sciences-and-healthcare/articles/2015-global-life-sciences-outlook.html
29. Modjadji P. Communicable and non-communicable diseases coexisting in South Africa. Lancet Glob Health. 2021;9(7):e889–90.
30. Unwin N, Agyemang C, Allotey P, Campbell C, Arhinful D. Tackling Africa’s chronic disease burden. Local Glob. 6:5.
31. World Health Organization. Country Cooperation Strategy: Zimbabwe. WHO Ctry Coop Strategy. 2018;570(April):0–1.
32. Organization WH. Communicable Diseases : Department of Communicable Diseases : 2022;
33. De Silva NR, Brooker S, Hotez PJ, Montresor A, Engels D, Savioli L. Soil-transmitted helminth infections: updating the global picture. Trends Parasitol. 2003;19(12):547–51.
34. Garba A, Matuska M, Bronzan RN, Colley DG, Dorkenoo AM, Ekpo UF, et al. Effect of preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel on schistosomiasis among school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa: a spatiotemporal modelling study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2022;22(1):136–49.
35. WHO. Non-communicable diseases Progress Monitor 2022. World Health. 2022. 233 p.
36. Spotlight R. MEDICAL DEVICE REGULATIONS. WORLD Health Organ. 2015;5(July 2013):12–7.
37. Accra/Brazzaville. Deaths from noncommunicable diseases on the rise in Africa. World Health Organ. 2022;
38. Dzingirai B, Matyanga C, Manyau P, Postma MJ, van Hulst M, Mafirakureva N. OP28 Health Technology Assessment: A Situation Analysis Of Zimbabwe. Int J Technol Assess Health Care. 2022;38(S1):S11–2.
39. Livingston AN, Mattingly II TJ. Drug and medical device product failures and the stability of the pharmaceutical supply chain. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2021;61(1):e119–22.
40. Von Zedtwitz M, Gassmann O. Market versus technology drive in R&D internationalization: Four different patterns of managing research and development. Res Policy. 2002;31(4):569–88.
41. Harris JJ, Lu S, Gabriele P. Commercial challenges in developing biomaterials for medical device development. Polym Int. 2018;67(8):969–74.
42. Wei S. Facilitating Industrialization in Africa: China’s Aid and African Industrial Capacity Building. China Q Int Strateg Stud. 2019;5(04):577–99.
43. Kaplan W, Laing R. Local production of pharmaceuticals: industrial policy and access to medicines, an overview of key concepts, issues and opportunities for future research. 2005;
44. Banda G, Mugwagwa J, Mackintosh M, Mkwashi A. The Localisation of Medical Manufacturing in Africa. 2022;
45. Chakravarty S. Resource constrained innovation in a technology intensive sector: Frugal medical devices from manufacturing firms in South Africa. Technovation. 2022;112:102397.
46. World Health Organization. Local production for access to medical products: developing a framework to improve public health [Internet]. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2011 [cited 2023 Jul 4]. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/77934
47. Clark J. Mitigating Risk in the Biomaterial Cold Chain.
48. London T, Hart SL. Reinventing strategies for emerging markets: beyond the transnational model. J Int Bus Stud. 2004;35:350–70.
49. Mahembe E, Odhiambo N. Foreign direct investment and economic growth: A theoretical framework. J Gov Regul. 2014;3(2).
50. Von Zedtwitz M, Gassmann O. Market versus technology drive in R&D internationalization: Four different patterns of managing research and development. Res Policy. 2002;31(4):569–88.
51. Glew RH. Promoting Collaborations Between Biomedical Scholars in the U.S. and Sub-Saharan Africa. Exp Biol Med. 2008;233(3):277–85.
52. Cheng M. Medical device regulations: global overview and guiding principles. 2003;
53. Bai X, Hu X, Wang C, Lim MK, Vilela ALM, Ghadimi P, et al. Most influential countries in the international medical device trade: Network-based analysis. Phys Stat Mech Its Appl. 2022 Oct;604:127889.
54. Gopoza T. Deindustrialisation of Zimbabwe: causes, implications, and remedies. University of Johannesburg (South Africa); 2020.
55. Mangla SK, Luthra S, Mishra N, Singh A, Rana NP, Dora M, et al. Barriers to effective circular supply chain management in a developing country context. Prod Plan Control. 2018;29(6):551–69.
56. Daniels R. Skills shortages in South Africa: A literature review. 2007;
57. Okafor EE. Development crisis of power supply and implications for industrial sector in Nigeria. Stud Tribes Tribals. 2008;6(2):83–92.
58. Richardson CJ. How the loss of property rights caused Zimbabwe’s collapse. Cato Inst Econ Dev Bull. 2005;4(2):1–4.
59. Barbu A, Militaru G. The moderating effect of intellectual property rights on relationship between innovation and company performance in manufacturing sector. Procedia Manuf. 2019;32:1077–84.
60. Shahrubudin N, Koshy P, Alipal J, Kadir M, Lee T. Challenges of 3D printing technology for manufacturing biomedical products: A case study of Malaysian manufacturing firms. Heliyon. 2020;6(4).
61. Maphosa F. Remittances and development: the impact of migration to South Africa on rural livelihoods in southern Zimbabwe. Dev South Afr. 2007;24(1):123–36.
62. Anadon LD, Chan G, Harley AG, Matus K, Moon S, Murthy SL, et al. Making technological innovation work for sustainable development. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2016;113(35):9682–90.
63. World Health Organization. A model regulatory program for medical devices: an international guide. 2000.
64. Lamph S. Regulation of medical devices outside the European Union. J R Soc Med. 2012;105 Suppl:12–21.
65. Hubner S, Maloney C, Phillips SD, Doshi P, Mugaga J, Ssekitoleko RT, et al. The Evolving Landscape of Medical Device Regulation in East, Central, and Southern Africa. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2021;9(1):136–48.
66. Gwaradzimba E, Shumba A. The nature, extent and impact of the brain drain in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Acta Acad. 2010;42(1):209–41.
67. UNIDO. PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA [Internet]. 2019. Available from: https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/files/2019-10/PHARMACEUTICAL_INDUSTRY_IN_SUB-SAHARAN_AFRICA_Guide_Book.pdf
68. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Local Production of Pharmaceuticals and Related Technology Transfer in Developing Countries: A Series of Case Studies by the UNCTAD Secretariat. In United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and World Health …; 2011.
69. Ncube BM, Dube A, Ward K. Establishment of the African Medicines Agency: progress, challenges and regulatory readiness. J Pharm Policy Pract. 2021 Dec;14(1):29.
70. World Health Organization. Towards improving access to medical devices through local production: phase II: report of a case study in four sub-Saharan countries. 2016;192.
71. World Health Organization African Regional Office. The African Regional Health Report: The Health of the People. World Health Organ. 2006;196.
72. Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). 2023 [cited 2023 May 7]. Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ). Available from: https://www.mcaz.co.zw/who-we-are/
73. Chimhundu C. Chapter 21 Healthcare Technology Management in Zimbabwe The HTM role and its challenges.
74. Hubner S, Maloney C, Phillips SD, Doshi P, Mugaga J, Ssekitoleko RT, et al. The evolving landscape of medical device regulation in East, Central, and Southern Africa. Glob Health Sci Pract. 2021;9(1):136–48.
75. Chiku C, Maruta T, Manasa J, Mbiba F. Medical Devises Regulation in Zimbabwe: An Evaluation of operational readiness. medRxiv. 2023;2023–06.
76. Sithole T, Mahlangu G, Salek S, Walker S. Evaluation of the Regulatory Review Process in Zimbabwe: Challenges and Opportunities. Ther Innov Regul Sci. 2021;55(3):474–89.
77. Regulations MD, Capabilities I, Africa S. Thesis. 2020;
78. Wangwe S, Simonetti R, Tibandebage P, Mackintosh M, Israel C, Mujinja PGM. Upgrading under globalization in health-related industries in Tanzania: the case for dynamic industrial deepening. Innov Dev. 2022;12(3):479–96.
79. Ncube BM, Dube A, Ward K. The domestication of the African Union model law on medical products regulation: Perceived benefits, enabling factors, and challenges. Front Med. 2023 Jan 30;10:1117439.
80. Rugera SP, McNerney R, Poon AK, Akimana G, Mariki RF, Kajumbula H, et al. Regulation of medical diagnostics and medical devices in the East African community partner states. BMC Health Serv Res. 2014 Oct 31;14(1):524.
81. KPMG. Life Sciences in Africa with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa. 2015;
82. Russo G, Banda G. Re-Thinking Pharmaceutical Production in Africa; Insights from the Analysis of the Local Manufacturing Dynamics in Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Stud Comp Int Dev. 2015 Jun;50(2):258–81.
83. Wilson ML, Fleming KA, Kuti MA, Looi LM, Lago N, Ru K. Access to pathology and laboratory medicine services: a crucial gap. The Lancet. 2018;391(10133):1927–38.
84. Tzenios N. The Determinants of Access to Healthcare: A Review of Individual, Structural, and Systemic Factors. J Humanit Appl Sci Res. 2019;2(1):1–14.
85. Pecchia L, Pallikarakis N, Magjarevic R, Iadanza E. Health technology assessment and biomedical engineering: global trends, gaps and opportunities. Med Eng Phys. 2019;72:19–26.
86. Mackintosh M, Banda G, Tibandebage P, Wamae W. Making medicines in Africa: The political economy of industrializing for local health. Springer Nature; 2015.
87. Yusuf S, Baden T, Prieto-Godino LL. Bridging the Gap: establishing the necessary infrastructure and knowledge for teaching and research in neuroscience in Africa. Metab Brain Dis. 2014 Jun 1;29(2):217–20.
88. The manufacturing sector in Zimbabwe : dynamics and constraints (English) [Internet]. The World Bank. 2010. Available from: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/278771468334842258/the-manufacturing-sector-in-zimbabwe-dynamics-and-constraints
89. International Labor Skills. International Labor Skills. Available from: https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_emp/---emp_ent/documents/genericdocument/wcms_736696.pdf
90. African Development Bank (AfDB). [Internet]. African Development Bank. 2019. Available from: https://www.afdb.org/en
91. huaxia. Zimbabwe faces critical skills gap which could hamper economic recovery: World Bank [Internet]. Xinhua. 2021. Available from: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/africa/2021-06/04/c_139987730.htm
92. UNESCO: Unesco Science Report: Towards 2030, 2015. [Internet]. 2017. Available from: http://en.unesco.org/unesco_science_ report
93. Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Report on Strengthening Research Capacities for Health in the Caribbean, 2007-2017. 2017.
94. Magner LN. A history of the life sciences, revised and expanded. CRC Press; 2002.
95. Atkins P, De Paula J. Physical chemistry for the life sciences. Oxford University Press, USA; 2011.
96. Enderle J, Bronzino J. Introduction to biomedical engineering. Academic press; 2012.
97. Lefor AK, Veloso A, Yang Z, Ye JC, Zeugolis DI, Lee SY. BMC Biomedical Engineering: a home for all biomedical engineering research. BMC Biomed Eng. 2019;1(1):1–4.
98. Hudak R, Penhaker M, Majernik J. Biomedical Engineering: Technical Applications in Medicine. BoD–Books on Demand; 2012.
99. Aronson JK, Heneghan C, Ferner RE. Medical Devices: Definition, Classification, and Regulatory Implications. Drug Saf. 2020;43(2):83–93.
100. Festas AJ, Ramos A, Davim JP. Medical devices biomaterials – A review. Proc Inst Mech Eng Part J Mater Des Appl. 2020;234(1):218–28.
101. Han X, Alu A, Liu H, Shi Y, Wei X, Cai L, et al. Biomaterial-assisted biotherapy: A brief review of biomaterials used in drug delivery, vaccine development, gene therapy, and stem cell therapy. Bioact Mater. 2022;17(January):29–48.
102. Expert Market Research. Expert Market Research. 2022. Global Medical Devices Market Share. Available from: https://www.expertmarketresearch.com/reports/medical-devices-market
103. Nations U. Dying from lack of medicines. United Nations. 2022.
104. Pheage T. Dying from lack of medicines. Afr Renew. 2017;30(3):24–5.
105. Bank W. Poverty and Inequality Platform (version 20230328_2017_01_02_PROD). 2023 [cited 2023 Apr 30]. Poverty and Inequality Platform. Available from: https://pip.worldbank.org/country-profiles/ZWE
106. Palombi L, Moramarco S. Health in sub-Saharan Africa: HIV, TB and malaria epidemiology. Multidiscip Teleconsultation Dev Ctries. 2018;3–16.
107. Oni T. Patterns of HIV, TB, and non-communicable disease multi-morbidity in an informal peri-urban setting in Cape Town, South Africa. University of Cape Town; 2015.
108. World Health Organization. Trends in local production of medicines and related technology transfer. 2011 [cited 2023 Jul 23]; Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/44712
109. Europe WHORO for. Environmentally sustainable health systems: a strategic document. World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe; 2017 p. vi, 20 p.
110. Aguado BA, Grim JC, Rosales AM, Watson-Capps JJ, Anseth KS. Engineering precision biomaterials for personalized medicine. Sci Transl Med. 2018;10(424):eaam8645.
111. Dzobo K, Senthebane DA, Pillay M, Ssemakalu C, Mkhumbeni N, Motaung KSCM. The Future of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine in Africa. Tissue Eng Part A. 2017 Oct 1;23(19–20):1023–5.
112. Zimbabwe. The National Health Strategy for Zimbabwe, 2009-2013: Equity and quality in health: A people’s right. Ministry of Health & Child Welfare; 2009.
113. EDLIZ. 7th Essential Medicines List and Standard Treatment Guidelines for Zimbabwe [Internet]. 2015. Available from: http://www.mdpcz.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/EDLIZ.pdf
114. Shonhe J, Bayat M. Challenges in Public Procurement. Administratio. :157.
115. Magidi M, Mahiya IT. Rethinking training: The role of the informal sector in skills acquisition and development in Zimbabwe. Dev South Afr. 2021;38(4):509–23.
116. Zinyama T, Nhema AG. Public-private partnerships: critical review and lessons for Zimbabwe. Public Policy Adm Res. 2015;5(6).
117. Bhat N, Kilmarx PH, Dube F, Manenji A, Dube M, Magure T. Zimbabwe’s national AIDS levy: a case study. SAHARA J Soc Asp HIVAIDS Res Alliance. 2016;13(1):1–7.
118. Zindiye S, Chiliya N, Masocha R. The impact of Government and other Institutions’ support on the Performance of Small and Medium Enterprises in the Manufacturing Sector in Harare, Zimbabwe. Int J Bus Manag Econ Res. 2012;3(6).
119. Magaisa G, Matipira L. Small and medium enterprises development in Zimbabwe. Int J Econ Manag Soc Sci. 2017;6(2).
120. Chikwawawa C, Bvirindi J. Exploring the feasibility of public private partnerships in the healthcare sector in Zimbabwe. Int J Sci Res Publ. 2019;9(11):4–15.
121. Roth L, Nalim A, Turesson B, Krech L. Global landscape assessment of screening technologies for medicine quality assurance: stakeholder perceptions and practices from ten countries. Glob Health. 2018;14:1–19.
122. Mzumara M. Developing an export promotion strategy for the post–conflict reconstruction of Zimbabwe. 2012;
123. Manyati T. Innovation through knowledge sharing: Evidence from the informal sector in Harare, Zimbabwe. Afr J Sci Technol Innov Dev. 2014;6(4):281–8.
124. Dube E. The build-back-better concept as a disaster risk reduction strategy for positive reconstruction and sustainable development in Zimbabwe: A literature study. Int J Disaster Risk Reduct. 2020;43:101401.
Files | ||
Issue | Vol 7, No 2 (2023) | |
Section | Review Article | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/htaa.v7i2.13815 | |
Keywords | ||
Medical Device Manufacturing Low-Income Countries |
Rights and permissions | |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |