The Medical Depot (MSD) has been commended for strengthening the supply chain of health products in Kagera region, which has reduced complaints of shortages of health products in the region.

The commendations were given by the Regional Administrative Secretary Steven Nashauri Ndaki, while speaking to a special delegation from MSD that visited his office, led by the Chairperson of the MSD Board of Trustees, Ms. Rosemary Silaa, on a special visit to celebrate MSD's 30th anniversary.

Ndaki noted that the improvements in MSD services have helped eliminate the annoyances and frequent complaints that existed among the community and customers about the shortage of medicines at the facilities, thus leading to the improvement of the provision of health services in the region.

He added that, apart from improving service delivery, the understanding of MSD's responsibilities and how it performs its functions has now increased among leaders, thus eliminating the stigma of blaming each other for the purchase of health products, between MSD and its customers, as all leaders in the region have been built on understanding.

"In the beginning, there was a lot of noise from the centers that we have paid but MSD has not delivered, however, in recent days, those complaints have gone away, and understanding of the health product chain has increased even among leaders, so let's congratulate them for the improvements" said Ndaki

For her part, the Chairperson of the MSD Board of Trustees, Ms. Rosemary Silaa, explained how MSD has gone through different periods, and how it has strived to improve its services, in order to reduce, or completely eliminate, the few challenges that faced the health product chain.

He added that MSD has continued to improve its contracts with manufacturers and suppliers, recruit various cadres to meet the needs of MSD services for customers, improve and strengthen operational systems, improve services and communication with its customers, to ensure that it resolves the few remaining challenges in the availability of health products in the country.

"During the 30 years of MSD's operation, the state of service delivery and availability of health products in the country has continued to improve significantly, while out of stock continues to decrease, so we are proud to complete 30 years, and we promise to continue to find solutions to the remaining challenges in this chain of health products in the country". Said Silaa

For his part, the Kagera Regional Chief Medical Officer Dr. Samuel Laizer congratulated MSD for completing 30 years, saying that the statistics show significant changes in the availability of health products and MSD services, compared to several years ago.

The MSD delegation, led by Silaa, is on a tour to visit customers in the Kagera and Geita regions served by the MSD Kagera Zone, with the aim of receiving feedback on MSD services, marking its 30th anniversary since it began operations.