The Sunday News
LEADING pharmaceutical manufacturer and distributor, Datlabs, has temporarily shelved plans to refurbish its intravenous fluids manufacturing factory in Bulawayo as it awaits Government’s assurance of purchasing the product.
The company mooted plans to rehabilitate its intravenous (IV) fluids manufacturing plant at a cost of about $2 million two years ago.
The plant has been non-functional for more than 10 years.
Datlabs chief executive officer Mr Todd Moyo said the company was forced to suspend the manufacturing of intravenous fluids after its major client, the Government, resorted to acquiring the product through donations from foreign donors.
“The factory is ready to commence production at any time but the cost of refurbishment required needs confirmation from our major customers (Government) that they will purchase the IV fluids locally and that they will be able to pay for them on time as these have been the main reasons we had suspended the manufacture of these Large Volume Parenterals in the first place,” Mr Moyo said.
He said the late payment by Government institutions made the project unviable.
IV fluids are fluids which are intended to be administered to a patient intravenously, directly through the circulatory system. These fluids must be sterile to protect patients from injury, and there are a number of different types available for use. Many companies manufacture packaged intravenous fluids, as well as products which can be mixed with sterile water to prepare a solution for intravenous administration.
Most of the LVPs consumed in Government institutions are donations from the multilateral partners of the Government.
“As long as these (Government institutions) continue to buy the fluids offshore, it would be difficult for any local factory to operate viably as the capacity utilisation required is such that the volumes have to come from the local market before we can consider exports,” Mr Moyo said.
Meanwhile, Mr Moyo said the company was satisfied with the performance of its camphor cream product, Camphacare, which was launched two years ago but hinted that it had been a challenge to gain market share from the old existing brands.
Datlabs lost the right to manufacture Ingrams’ Camphor Cream. This development came after Tiger Brands of South Africa cancelled an arrangement under which Datlabs Zimbabwe’s Bulawayo firm had manufactured the popular Ingrams’ Camphor Cream for about 50 years.
“We have seen pleasing growth on our Camphacare sales as the awareness and quality of the product has been experienced in the market. We are currently on an aggressive campaign to widen both awareness and distribution of the product nationwide.
“While it has been a challenge to gain market share from old existing market brands, we have been excited at the progress we have made so far,” Mr Moyo.
He said the company was working at introducing a number of new products as well as exploring various business opportunities.
The company is also looking forward to spreading its footprint in the region.
“We have already made exports to Ghana, Kenya, Malawi and South Africa and we are currently in negotiations for exports to Zambia and Mozambique. This is a continuous process as we explore other areas in the Sadc (Southern African Development Community) and Comesa (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) regions,” Mr Moyo said.
