Heads of Drug Depots and leaders in charge of health product procurement in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have stated that the Tanzania Drug Depot (MSD) has become a role model in the countries of the community.

They have also said that the MSD will be a catalyst for unifying development and boosting the African economy due to its effectiveness in ensuring access to reliable medicines and health products.

Speaking today, July 12, 2023 in Dar es Salaam after a two-day meeting for the leaders held in Tanzania, the Chairman of the heads, Richard Biayi, said that they have seen the activities carried out by MSD and are satisfied with it and believe that in the coming days, Africa will unite especially in the area of ​​importing health products.

He added that while at MSD, they visited the warehouse for storing medicines and health products along with witnessing the production of masks at the MSD factory located in the warehouse and what they learned is that Tanzania has made progress in that area through MSD.

The leaders have been in the country since July 10 for a meeting to discuss and improve the way medicine is purchased, which is expected to end today.

For his part, MSD Director General Mavere Tukai explained that the presence of the leaders from the SADC community is aimed at meeting and discussing various issues related to systemic improvements in the operation of the drug depot.

"It is as if we are exchanging experiences and everyone is learning, for example, our Zambian colleagues are very good at renewable energy, so it is good to learn so that in the future we can reduce costs," he said.

He added that their procurement strategy meeting with the SADC leaders was attended by all countries in the community and those who were not present participated online and have come up with several recommendations.

"MSD and the SADC secretariat have discussed how to improve procurement and have made recommendations for the short, medium and long term." he said.

He also said that they have suggested ways to improve the procurement system and improve health products, management, human resources and finance, payments and communications.

"For example, the system needs to be digital because we are in different countries and cannot communicate through paper. If the proposals are accepted, priorities will be set and we will move on to implementation," said Tukai.