The Medical Supply Department (MSD) has stated that in the 2023/24 Financial Year, it is expected to enhance the availability of health products including medicines, medical devices and reagents, through specific strategies set by the Department.

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

"In enhancing the availability of health products, the first thing that will be done is to encourage the use of statistics to understand the needs, time and places where health products are needed, other key areas that MSD is currently working on are strengthening the entire procurement system by carefully reviewing contracts so that health products are not in short supply".

“At the same time, we will encourage cooperation with local manufacturers where we will provide opportunities based on legal principles and purchase products from them,” said Manager Ibrahim.

He has named the strategies as strengthening the availability of health products and their care infrastructure through funds provided by the Government, starting the production of gloves at a factory located in Idofi Village, Njombe Region which is nearing completion, starting the implementation of projects to establish health product factories in Zegereni, Coast Region and the establishment of medical cotton factories.

Other strategies include preliminary preparations to implement the construction project of a pharmaceutical factory as well as medical cotton products and starting the construction of modern warehouses in Dodoma, Mtwara and Kagera regions with the aim of increasing storage space and improving the quality of health products, where the construction of these warehouses is expected to begin in August 2023.

The implementation of these MSD responsibilities goes hand in hand with the implementation of performance improvement instructions issued by the President, Hon. Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, when she appointed the new leadership of the Warehouse.

She added that MSD is reviewing all operational systems including supply chain, management and IT to keep pace with the increasing pace of construction of health care facilities, being built by the Government and to ensure that the Government's goals in access to health products are achieved.