DAR ES SALAAM:

The Secretary General of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Hon. Elias Mpedi Magosi, together with his delegation, have visited the Headquarters of the Medicines Depot (MSD), located in Dar es Salaam, with the aim of observing how the institution is carrying out its responsibilities in parallel with receiving feedback on the progress of the implementation of the Joint Procurement Scheme (SPPS) for the member countries.

Speaking on behalf of the Management of the Medicines Depot, the Acting Director General of the Depot, Mr. Leopold Shayo, congratulated the SADC Executive Secretary for visiting Tanzania, and in particular visiting the MSD, while also highlighting the various achievements achieved in the Community through the implementation of the Joint Procurement Scheme for the member countries.

Mr. Shayo said that to date, MSD through the SADC Pooled Procurement (SPPS) has facilitated the development of SPPS Guidelines and a Supply Chain Management System for member countries, convened a regional SADC Pooled Procurement technical meeting to facilitate information exchange.

He added that to date, MSD has been able to develop an electronic system (e-SPPS) to help handle all SPPS supply chain management transactions within the Southern African Development Community, while facilitating the signing of 41 contracts with healthcare product manufacturers.

In addition, Mr. Shayo stressed that MSD has facilitated the promotion of the use of the SPPS platform by holding meetings with SADC Ambassadors accredited by Tanzania and SADC countries, where as of February 2022, three (3) Member States had started using the SPPS system, namely the United Republic of Tanzania, Comoros, and Seychelles, saving between 35% -70% of the cost of purchasing health products.

In another step, three (3) more countries that are members of the Community, namely Mozambique, Malawi, and Botswana, have shown interest and readiness to use the SPPS platform, due to the successes achieved through the joint procurement system.

And the Acting Director of Logistics of MSD, Mr. William Singano, said that apart from the successes achieved through the joint procurement system, there is still a need for encouragement for member states to use the system to enable the specific objective of the establishment of the partnership to be achieved.

Mr. Singano has requested the SADC leadership to assist in the provision of regional information to local producers within the community, a move that will help enable them to participate in the procurement of health products and increase income and employment for member countries.

He has also requested the SADC leadership to assist in the provision of specific people (contact person) from member countries who will be managing the system and information related to the SPPS. In parallel, he has requested the leadership to assist in the provision of a specific list of 83 essential health products, along with producers to assist in procurement and production plans.

For his part, the SADC Secretary, Hon. Elias Mpedi Magosi has stated that Tanzania being the main purchaser of medicines for the SADC region is a great honor for the Nation, being trusted for good service, capacity and meeting professional standards in the supply chain.

He commended the leadership of MSD for the great strides it has made in the joint procurement program, while promising to work on the various challenges presented by MSD, in order to bring productivity and impetus to joint procurement of health products for member countries.

However; he urged MSD to increase its strength and creativity to attract more countries and ensure that the goal is achieved, while commending the plan to give priority to local manufacturers, as it will boost the economies of member countries as well as increase employment.