The government has stepped up efforts to promote the local production of medicines by strengthening collaboration with private sector stakeholders, a move aimed at reducing dependence on imports and improving the availability of essential drugs in the country.
This commitment was reiterated during a meeting between government officials and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders held on March 23, 2026, at the Ministry’s sub-office in Dar es Salaam.
Speaking during the meeting, Deputy Permanent Secretary responsible for pharmaceuticals and medical devices, Emmanuel Tayari, said the government remains determined to support local pharmaceutical manufacturers and is ready to work closely with them to address challenges affecting the sector.
The meeting brought together Tayari and the chairman of the Tanzania Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (TPMA), Bashir Haroon, where they discussed strategies to accelerate domestic medicine production and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry.
Tayari said the government’s focus is to ensure the health sector achieves greater self-sufficiency in medicine production, enabling the country to meet a significant portion of its demand through local manufacturing.
He noted that expanding domestic pharmaceutical production is part of broader efforts to strengthen the health sector in Tanzania and aligns with the vision of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to improve access to quality healthcare services.
According to Tayari, creating a supportive environment for pharmaceutical manufacturers will help increase efficiency in production and encourage more investment in the sector.
“We will continue to ensure a friendly business environment for medicine manufacturers so they can operate efficiently and contribute fully to the development of the health sector. The government’s goal is to see the country become more self-reliant in the availability of medicines,” he said.
Stakeholders said stronger cooperation between the government and private manufacturers will help expand production capacity, support the growth of the pharmaceutical industry and ensure a reliable supply of essential medicines for Tanzanians.
