ESSENTIAL DRUGS: Tanzania attains Africa’s record high 90% stock availability
By Special Correspondent – THE Government of Tanzania has confirmed that access to essential drugs has currently been strengthened, explaining that vital drugs are available by over 90 percent in hospitals, dispensaries and health centres across the country.
The country’s Medical Stores Department (MSD), Director General, Laurean Bwanakunu made the comments when he was phoned by the Chief Government Spokesperson Dr. Hassan Abbasi straight away from Radio Nyemo FM Studio in the City of Dodoma, being a continuation of ensuring that members of the public get correct and quick answers from government executives.
Speaking live on the radio show, Mr. Bwanakunu said the accessibility to drugs was in line with the reduction of drug prices after MSD had implemented the government order about buying drugs straight away from pharmaceutical industries instead of using agents.
He said MSD had continued to convince investors to set up more pharmaceutical industries in the country so to minimize drug import costs.
Bwanakunu said MSD supplied drugs to different distribution centres numbering 7,514 and made a call to health centres and hospitals to place orders as early as possible so that MSD could distribute them at the right time.
He further attributed the Africa’s probably high performance to President John Pombe Magufuli’s deliberate efforts to raise budget for essential goods and drugs.
“The government raised health budged for equipment and drugs from a mere TZS 31 billion in 2015 to a staggering TZS 270 this financial year,” he said.
According to local sources, the Magufuli government is also focusing on construction and rehabilitation of health centres, district hospitals and referral centres.
