MSD customers from Mbeya, Songwe, Rukwa, and Makete council regions are urged to use other sources of income to purchase health products from the Drug Store (MSD).

They have also been asked to pay or reduce their debts owed to MSD to give economic strength to the health product supply chain, instead of piling up their debts.

The opinion was given by the Mbeya Regional Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Elizabeth Nyema on behalf of the Regional Administrative Secretary, during the opening of the MSD Mbeya Zone 2025 Customers and Stakeholders meeting, held at the Tughimbe Hotel Hall, Mbeya City.

"As health service managers in your areas, you have a great responsibility and duty to manage your facilities, ensuring that they collect sufficient income from the provision of services so that they can purchase products and pay their debts to MSD." Said Dr. Nyema

He added that, not paying MSD's debts is hampering services, as these debts affect the supply chain of health products, and the centers will fail to be properly served and MSD will lack funds to continue the cycle of access to health products.

Dr. Nyema commended MSD for organizing Stakeholder Forums, which bring together health professionals and discuss effective ways to solve the challenges facing the supply chain and find solutions.

Dr. Nyema emphasized that health is a major pillar of development for individual citizens and the nation as a whole, so the presence of such forums is a catalyst for improvements in health services in the country.

Initially giving introductory greetings, the Acting Manager of MSD Mbeya Zone Mr. Petro Mdegela said the Zone serves approximately 960 health care centers, of which Mbeya region has 416 centers, Songwe 248, Rukwa 236 and Makete 60 centers.

Mdegela added that MSD Mbeya Zone, like other MSD zones, delivers health products to the customer's door, 6 times a year, a move that has helped significantly to eliminate the shortage of health products in the country.

He added that MSD continues to ensure that all claims for medical equipment from Customers are processed and presented to them as soon as possible, as MSD management has already worked on the area.

Mdegela has asked customers and stakeholders served by the Zone to continue collaborating with MSD so that together they can improve and strengthen the supply chain of health products in the country.

Closing the session, the Songwe Regional Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Boniface Kasululu said the meeting was successful and productive for all regions served by the Zone, as both parties discussed openly, obtaining information and various opinions to improve access to health products.

Dr. Kasululu urged the stakeholders to ensure that they work on all that was raised at the meeting, for example, the timely submission of product applications, payment of debts, partnerships, maintenance of medical equipment, spare parts for various machines distributed by MSD, timely maintenance of medical equipment, etc.

Finally, Dr. Kasululu congratulated MSD for improving services and access to health products, as currently the access has doubled, compared to the previous period when there were many complaints.