MSD and Rwanda Discuss Collaboration in Health Commodities Supply Chain
MSD and Rwanda Medical Supply Explore Strategic Collaboration to Strengthen Health Supply Chains
The Medical Stores Department (MSD) of Tanzania and Rwanda Medical Supply (RMS) have held high-level discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation in the supply chain of health commodities, including production, procurement, storage, and distribution of medicines and medical supplies.
The meeting, held on May 14, 2026 at MSD Headquarters in Dodoma, brought together experts from both institutions to exchange operational experience and explore new opportunities for collaboration in improving access to quality, safe, and timely health commodities across the region.
Speaking during the discussions, MSD Director General Mr. Mavere Tukai said the institution continues to implement major reforms in its health supply systems while also investing in local production to ensure sustainable availability of essential health products.
He added that MSD is open to expanding cooperation with Rwanda in various areas of health commodity supply, including the possibility of serving the Rwandan market by leveraging MSD’s growing production capacity, procurement systems, and distribution network.
The engagement also highlighted MSD’s broader efforts to strengthen regional and international partnerships in improving health logistics systems. This aligns with earlier initiatives where MSD has been working with regional partners, including the SADC Secretariat, to enhance digital procurement systems and improve efficiency in health commodity management across Southern Africa.
On his part, RMS Board Member Dr. Erick Nyirimigabo praised MSD’s operational systems, noting that the visit provided valuable lessons that will help improve Rwanda’s health supply chain and open new opportunities for long-term collaboration between the two institutions.
Dr. Nyirimigabo added that the partnership discussions are timely as countries in the region continue to seek more resilient, efficient, and transparent systems for managing medicines and medical supplies.
In addition to the discussions, the RMS delegation visited the MSD Central Warehouse in Dodoma, where they observed firsthand how MSD manages its core functions in procurement, storage, and distribution of health commodities.
MSD has in recent years expanded its infrastructure and capacity, including modern warehouses in Dodoma and Mtwara, which have significantly improved storage and distribution efficiency across the country. The institution now manages tens of thousands of square meters of storage space and continues to implement plans to expand further to meet growing demand.
Through such collaborations, MSD continues to position itself as a key regional player in health supply chain management, contributing to improved access to medicines and strengthening health systems not only in Tanzania but across the region.
