By Flata Kavinga
The role of pharmacists is evolving beyond traditional medicine dispensing as the healthcare sector embraces technology, innovation and changing patient needs, Pharmaceutical Society of Zimbabwe (PSZ) president Vimbainashe Mukakati has said.
Speaking during the official opening of the 2026 College of Primary Care Physicians of Zimbabwe (CPCPZ) and PSZ joint annual conference in Kwekwe on Friday, Mukakati said pharmacists and doctors remained key pillars in improving healthcare delivery.
The conference is running under the theme “Reimagining Quality Healthcare”.
Mukakati said the long-standing partnership between medical doctors and pharmacists was critical in ensuring better patient outcomes.
“Historically, medicine and pharmacy have been recognised as the distinct pillars of the healthcare system. None can operate independently of each other, hence the importance of our annual congress,” she said.
She described doctors as key players in diagnosis and treatment planning, while pharmacists played a central role in medicine safety, therapeutics and ensuring access to effective medicines.
Mukakati said the pharmacy profession had transformed significantly, with pharmacists now involved in areas such as information and communication technology (ICT), pharmacovigilance, regulation, drug delivery systems, stewardship and personalised medicines.
“Gone are the days when pharmacy was all about dispensing. The profession has evolved into a complex system,” she said.
She said developments in technology, including artificial intelligence and digital health, were reshaping healthcare systems and required professionals to continuously adapt.
Mukakati said healthcare providers also needed to respond to changing disease patterns, global health threats and increasing patient access to information.
“Quality can no longer just mean doing what we have always done in the way that we have always done it. Quality means evolving to meet both the current needs of our healthcare system and anticipate future needs,” she said.
She challenged healthcare professionals to explore ways of integrating technology into healthcare while maintaining the human element of patient care.
Mukakati also called for stronger collaboration between healthcare institutions to ensure patients experience a seamless journey from diagnosis to receiving treatment.
She said the conference provided a platform for healthcare professionals to share ideas, discuss challenges and develop solutions that could improve healthcare delivery in Zimbabwe.
“This two days should not just be to discuss the future of healthcare but to actively begin building it,” she said.
The joint congress brings together doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals to discuss developments and challenges affecting the sector.
