Meagre budgetary allocation to the Medical Stores Department (MSD) has been cited as a major challenge facing the department in carrying out its operations efficiently.
MSD acting Director General, Mr Cosmas Mwaifwani told reporters in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that only 63bn/- out of the needed 191bn/- was availed to the department in the 2012/13 fiscal year. He further noted that the shortage of local drug plants was another challenge for the department thus forcing the unit to import about 80 per cent of the drugs and medical equipment.
“It’s high time the local businesspeople heavily invest in the area of health service largely establishing medical production plants,” said Mr Mwaifwami. The MSD acting DG pointed out that only ten out of 59 types of medicines announced through tender process were available from local medicine companies and that 85 per cent of the budget on medicine went to foreign companies.
He said that about 41 contracts were won by local companies followed by India (19), Kenya (6), United Kingdom (3), Uganda, Netherlands, Germany and China (2), South Korea and Denmark (1).
Mr Mwaifwami explained that the export of drugs is being administered by the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and that any drugs should be inspected and registered by the authority before being supplied in the country.
“But, MSD also conducts Internal Audit and Quality Assurance in order to ensure that procedures on tender and procurement processes were observed and that the drugs bought meet the standard,” he said.
According to acting Director General , the MSD Tender Board is the one that administers the tender process and is formed by member with different expertise.
By LUDOVICK KAZOKA, Tanzania Daily News
