Parliamentary Committee calls on government to strengthen public education on medicine use

By The Respondents Reporter

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on HIV/AIDS has urged the government to intensify public education on the correct use of medicines and ways to identify counterfeit drugs. 

The move aims to protect citizens’ health and improve the quality of healthcare services across the country.

The call was made yesterday, January 20, 2026, by the committee chair, Dr. Johannes Lukumay, during a session where members received briefings from the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) and the Office of the Government Chemist.

Dr. Lukumay highlighted that the government has set aside TZS 6.7 trillion to strengthen healthcare services, including TZS 20 billion every month for medicine procurement. 

He said that these investments must go hand in hand with public awareness campaigns to ensure medicines are used safely and effectively.

The committee also urged authorities to tighten controls on counterfeit and substandard medicines, particularly at border posts and airports, to prevent unsafe drugs from entering the country.

“Although efforts so far have reduced medicine wastage from 10 percent to 1 percent, more work is needed to ensure sustainable regulation of medicines nationwide,” Dr. Lukumay said.

Looking ahead to the National Development Vision 2030, he said the goal is to see “Tanzanians’ faces shining” through access to safe medicines and improved healthcare services.

On technology, Dr. Lukumay encouraged TMDA and the Government Chemist’s Office to use artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and control fake medicines more effectively.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Dr. Jafar R. Seif, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare services, ensuring that citizens receive safe, high-quality care at all times.