The increase in the distribution of health products by the Medical Dispensary (MSD) since the Financial Year 2022/23 after a review of the supply chain and recommendations for improvements in the distribution of health products, has led to improved availability of these products in the country.

The MSD Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Hassan Ally Ibrahim, said this today at the Information Department - MAELEZO hall in Dodoma while speaking to journalists about improvements in the supply chain of health products as a continuation of the institution's provision of information to the media about the implementation of the institution's responsibilities and its direction for the financial year 2023/24.

Ibrahim said that, as of June 2023, MSD had 238 long-term contracts with a total of 2,004 health products as a special strategy to increase access to health products, where in line with the rapid increase in health facilities carried out by the Sixth Phase Government, MSD has been communicating with Tanzanian embassies in China, Algeria, South Korea, Russia and other parts of the world to be able to identify manufacturers, investors and facilitate the purchase of health products with reliability, quality and affordable prices.

“The government through MSD officially began implementing the role of distributing health products six times instead of four times a year to all public health care facilities for the 2022/23 financial year. This distribution eliminates the problem of access to health products by ensuring that all facilities are delivered health products to the doorstep of health care facilities every two months,” said Manager Ibrahim.

In the 2022/23 financial year, the Government through the Drug Depot allocated 157.56 billion shillings for the purchase of health products for health care facilities, which is the highest amount ever allocated by the Government through the Drug Depot since its establishment 30 years ago. This amount is only a portion of the funds allocated by the Government for the purchase of health products.