The Tanzania Medical Devices Agency (MSD) through its Quality Control Unit has continued with the exercise of monitoring the quality of medicines, medical devices and laboratory reagents that have been distributed to customers to ensure that these health products, especially medicines, continue to have the required quality.

This exercise is a guideline issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) along with the advice of the Tanzania Medicines and Devices Authority (TMDA) requesting MSD as a distributor of health products in the country to monitor the quality of products that are already available to customers and see how they are maintained, in order to protect the health of consumers as there have been many challenges in the drug supply chain, which can affect the initial quality of medicines and medical devices, including the method of transportation, handling and climate in their areas.

In the 2022/2023 Financial Year, this exercise has already been carried out in the regions of Iringa, Mbeya, Kilimanjaro and Tanga in hospitals, health centers and dispensaries, while the exercise is expected to continue in other regions.

This exercise is carried out annually to protect the health of consumers, including advising on deficiencies that may be observed in health care facilities, in order to avoid any impact on the quality of the products.

This exercise focuses on the manner of transportation, handling and climate in the areas where the products are stored in the facilities.