GGM challenges faced and suggested solutions
| GGM framework planned activity | Challenge | How to address them |
| Formation and approval of GGM Steering Committee | Steering Committee was formed and approved but it failed to meet, due to the lack of dedicated funding to support GGM Steering Committee meetings. | Secure dedicated funding support for this activity. |
| Engagement of existing regulatory agents including; the Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ), Health Professions Authority (HPA), and national law-enforcement agents | Dual Strategy only enabled engagement of MCAZ through the Quality Assurance Programme which did not include HPA and law-enforcement agents. | Inclusion of all necessary stakeholders will be possible if dedicated funding to support this endeavour is secured for that purpose. |
| Securing development partner funding to support the GGM implementation | With the new dispensation coming in in November 2017, funding mechanisms and priorities appeared to change resulting less effort being put into securing partner support for GGM. | Pursue partner collaborations to secure funding for GGM activities. |
| Incorporation of GGM into curricula for health professions students (pharmacy, pharmacy technicians, medicine, nursing) | Limited funding within COE-PI only allowed for the GGM host (University of Zimbabwe)’s pharmacy students but left out other universities and other health professions students. | Secure dedicated funding for the introduction of GGM into the curricula at other health professional training institutions. |
| Formation of collaborative agreements | Limited funding for COE-PI, to influence change in government policies. Slowing down of activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | Secure dedicated funding to cater for COE-PI projects. Aggressively adopt and improve online systems to fast track progress made on all activities. |
| Petitioning for political and policy support | Activities slowed down by limited funding and recently the COVID-19 pandemic. | Need to aggressively adopt and improve online systems to fast track progress made on all activities. |
| Advocacy | Limited funding, inflation due to unstable currency, COVID-19 and shift in government priorities with the new dispensation. | Inclusion of an advocacy team in the government decision making committees to push for pharmaceutical agendas. |
| Monitoring and evaluation system linked to the existing one within the Ministry of Health and Child Care | Changes in government priorities resulting in limited funding support for GGM activities. | Create an advocacy team comprising of pharmacists in the Ministry of Health and Child Care decision making board. |
| Increase traceability of medicines within the supply chain | Reported leakage of medicines from the public to the private sector Identification of falsified medicines within the system not easily identified. | Introduce GS1 standards with the country supply chain systems for medicines. |
GGM, Good Governance for Medicines.