Zambia

Zambia is rapidly emerging as a strategic pharmaceutical manufacturing and life sciences hub within Southern Africa, driven by the government’s Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP).

The country is best known for its aggressive push toward health sovereignty, significantly reducing its reliance on imports through the Zambia Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Strategy 2024-2028.

This robust regulatory environment, overseen by the Zambia Medicines and Regulatory Authority (ZAMRA), has attracted major players to scale local production of essential medicines.

Beyond traditional pharma, Zambia is gaining international acclaim for healthcare innovation, with home-grown health-tech startups winning global awards for AI-driven maternal care and digital supply chain solutions.

The biotechnology and medical device sectors are also seeing increased activity, particularly in point-of-care diagnostics and laboratory automation to combat infectious and chronic diseases.

In academic research, Zambia leverages strong global partnerships with institutions in the US and UK to lead critical clinical trials and cancer research, spearheaded by the Ministry of Health and the University of Zambia (UNZA).

The Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMMSA) further bolsters the ecosystem by streamlining the medical supply chain through digitized procurement.

This evolution into a tech-enabled, manufacturing-capable market makes Zambia a prime destination for life sciences investment and biotech collaboration in the SADC region.