In 2021, the government of Tanzania expanded the Medical Stores Department (MSD)  mandates through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Act No. 4) of 2021, empowering the institution to engage in the production of health commodities. 

This pivotal reform aimed to strengthen Tanzania’s health supply chain architecture and align directly with the Government’s industrialization agenda to reduce dependency on imports while ensuring wider access to affordable, high-quality, locally manufactured health products.

To drive this vision, MSD established MSD Medipharm Manufacturing Company Limited in 2023, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to manufacturing health commodities. This structure allows MSD to retain focus on its core functions of procurement, storage, and distribution, while ensuring efficiency, resource mobilization and accountability in production and across the entire value chain.

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MSD Medipharm Manufacturing Company Limited currently operates medical mask and glove manufacturing plants in Dar es Salaam and Njombe, respectively, and manages the Pharmaceutical Industrial Park in Zegereni - Kibaha, a hub designed to attract investors, foster joint ventures, and accelerate the local production of health commodities. The park serves as a catalyst for technology transfer, skill development, and enhanced domestic manufacturing capacity.

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Anchored on MSD’s motto, “Dedicated to Save Lives,” Medipharm’s mission is clear: to deliver high-quality, safe, and affordable health commodities that support Tanzania’s health system and strengthen regional health security. Through strategic partnerships with the private sector—both local and international—Medipharm is driving innovation, expanding production capabilities, and enabling a reliable, sustainable, and competitive supply of essential medical products. 

By championing local production, Medipharm is not only advancing Tanzania’s self-sufficiency but also creating a gateway for regional market growth, positioning the country as a rising hub for pharmaceutical and medical supplies manufacturing in East and Southern Africa.