The operational difficulties faced by importers and producers of medicines continue to undermine the business environment in the private health sector, warned the Mozambican Association of Importers and Producers of Medicines (AIPROMEM) during a meeting with the Private Health and Pharmacies Division of the Confederation of Economic Associations of Mozambique (CTA).
The session, held as part of the sectoral consultations to develop a reform matrix to be submitted to the Government, highlighted several concerns, with particular emphasis on the constant delays in invoice payments by the State, which have caused cash flow constraints for companies in the sector.
The association also pointed to delays in customs processes, worsened by the lack of interoperability between the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (ANARME) and the Customs Directorate-General (DGA), despite the implementation of the Electronic Single Window (JUE). This situation has led to significant delays in clearing imported medicines.
Another critical issue raised was the shortage of foreign currency in the financial market, which hinders import operations. Added to this are the high costs of the Pharmaceutical Specialties Inspection Bulletin (BIEF), which is now calculated at 2% of the invoice value, replacing the previous fixed rate of 2,500 meticais per invoice—representing a substantial increase in charges.
Since 2019, operators have also seen a continuous rise in medicine import taxes. Coupled with fixed profit margins imposed by the Government—far below actual operating costs—this compromises the sustainability of companies in the sector.
At the end of the meeting, the president of the Private Health Division, Cardoso Muendane, assured that the concerns raised were duly recorded and will be included in the priority reform matrix to be submitted to the Government. He also called for the active involvement of companies in business associations as a way to strengthen their influence on public policy.
Source: CTA Newsletter
