Angola and Serbia to Boost Cooperation in Healthcare

Luanda: The Angolan Health Minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, presented a proposal for a healthcare cooperation agreement between Angola and Serbia to her Serbian counterpart, Zlatibor Loncar, on Monday. The initiative seeks to enhance collaboration between the two nations in various healthcare sectors. According to Angola Press News Agency, the proposal outlines plans to focus on training and specialization for doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and researchers. The agreement aims to establish frameworks for the registration and quality control of medicines, along with advancements in pharmacovigilance devices, molecular and precision medicine, biotechnology, hospital management, and digitalization. Furthermore, the Angolan minister highlighted the country's need for more qualified healthcare professionals and the importance of setting up factories to produce medicines locally. This move is expected to reduce dependency on imported medical goods and foster the production of medical devices and implants within Angola. A strategic component of the proposal is to attract investment for establishing industrial units dedicated to local medicine production. The agreement is anticipated to be negotiated further and potentially signed at the Bilateral Commission meeting scheduled for October. Sílvia Lutucuta emphasized that health is regarded as a fundamental right by the Angolan Executive and is considered a central pillar for sustainable development in the nation.