DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA – The Ministry of Health has established a special task force to accelerate the implementation of a national strategy aimed at ensuring consistent availability of medicines and medical supplies through local manufacturing.
The formation of the task force follows recent directives from the Minister for Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa, and represents a significant step in the government’s plan to reduce dependence on imported medical products.
Dr. Seif Shekalaghe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, announced the formation of the team comprising experts from within the Ministry and various external institutions. The task force has been given three days to prepare preliminary recommendations for implementing the Minister’s directives.
“The task force must strictly observe the rules, guidelines, procedures and laws governing the health sector,” Dr. Shekalaghe stated during the announcement at the Ministry’s sub-office in Dar es Salaam. He further cautioned the team against unnecessary bureaucracy that could delay the execution of this critical assignment.
The task force faces a tight deadline, requiring submission of its findings to the Minister for Health within seven days. Following this, the Minister will issue an official roadmap detailing how the strategy will be implemented.
Minister Mchengerwa emphasized that the program aligns with the CCM’s 2025–2030 election manifesto and supports the policy direction of the sixth-phase government by building national capacity for health commodity production.
“The government is committed to creating a more enabling environment for private-sector investment in pharmaceutical industries, medical equipment, diagnostics and other health products,” Mchengerwa stated.
In his directives, the Minister instructed the preparation of a comprehensive list of all investors who have expressed interest in establishing pharmaceutical manufacturing plants since 2015. This list must detail their progress, challenges faced, resource requirements, financial capacity, and reasons for delays, with submission required within 15 days.
Additionally, Mchengerwa directed that a joint meeting with all investors be convened within 30 days to discuss challenges, set actionable resolutions, and open doors for new potential investors.
The strategy also aims to strengthen the Medical Stores Department (MSD) by enhancing its capacity to procure, produce, and distribute health supplies efficiently, representing a comprehensive approach to securing Tanzania’s medical supply chain through domestic production.
