MSD’s Regional Market Initiative (RMI) Unit drives the institution’s mandate beyond national borders through regional collaboration and pooled procurement. With modern warehousing infrastructure, a robust cold-chain network, synchronized ICT systems, and a distribution fleet of over 200 trucks, MSD ensures efficient delivery of health commodities to even the most remote locations.

In recognition of these capabilities, the SADC Ministers of Health and Ministers responsible for HIV and AIDS—in Polokwane, South Africa (2017)—approved MSD to serve as the regional pooled procurement agency for sixteen SADC Member States, representing a combined population of approximately 346 million people.

To operationalize this mandate, MSD developed the Electronic SADC Pooled Procurement System (eSPPS)—a digital platform that enables transparent, efficient coordination of regional procurement activities. The RMI Unit works collaboratively with SADC Member States to harmonize tracer-item lists, align with national essential medicines lists, and maintain sustainable cross-border supply-chain relationships.

SADC Member States: Angola · Botswana · Comoros · DRC · Eswatini · Lesotho · Madagascar · Malawi · Mauritius · Mozambique · Namibia · Seychelles · South Africa · Tanzania · Zambia · Zimbabwe