The Minister of Health, Mohammed Mchengerwa, has issued critical directives aimed at improving the availability and accessibility of medicines and health products across Tanzania, emphasizing the need for accountability and tangible results that benefit citizens directly.
Speaking on April 2, 2026, at the Medical Stores Department (MSD) headquarters in Dar es Salaam during a meeting with pharmaceutical and medical equipment stakeholders, Minister Mchengerwa stressed that the government will not rely solely on statistics that do not reflect the actual situation on the ground.
Despite reports indicating adequate supplies, he noted, citizens continue to face shortages of essential medicines.
To address these challenges, Minister Mchengerwa directed the Chief Government Pharmacist to review the medicine availability assessment system, ensuring it measures not only the presence of medicines but also their sufficiency according to real demand.
He instructed the Chief Medical Officer to strengthen prescription oversight in line with the National Essential Medicines List and Treatment Guidelines while reinforcing the role of Medical and Therapeutics Committees.
He also called for a review of management structures in health facilities to ensure pharmacists play an active role in leadership and decision-making.
On the issue of unpaid debts to MSD, Minister Mchengerwa stressed that hospitals and health centers must negotiate repayment agreements and clear their dues within three months.
Regional and District Medical Officers were instructed to closely monitor the use of funds, particularly for medicine procurement, and ensure proper utilization of reporting systems.
Citizens were also urged to report any challenges related to medicine availability in their communities to enhance transparency and accountability.
Minister Mchengerwa announced that the government has begun implementing an electronic prescription system (e-Prescription) to increase transparency, improve monitoring, and reduce the issuance of prescriptions for medicines that are unavailable.
He acknowledged that while current statistics show medicine availability at 89–90 percent, complaints from citizens reveal a gap between the data and reality.
The government remains committed to ensuring every Tanzanian has timely access to quality medicines.
