Manyara Regional Commissioner Queen Sendiga has called for tougher penalties against people involved in importing and distributing counterfeit, substandard and unregistered medicines, saying the illegal trade poses a serious threat to public health.
Ms Sendiga urged the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) to strengthen enforcement against individuals importing medicines for human and veterinary use that do not meet safety and quality requirements.
She said those involved in the illegal trade, including people who facilitate the entry of such products into the country, showed little concern for the health and wellbeing of Tanzanians.
“Those who import these medicines and those who assist them lack compassion and patriotism because of the harm these products can cause,” she said.
Ms Sendiga was speaking on Thursday, August 20, 2026, when she opened a two-day working session bringing together TMDA officials, editors and journalists from Manyara, Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions.
The meeting, held at the Manyara Regional Commissioner’s office, focused on strengthening media understanding of TMDA’s regulatory mandate and improving public awareness of the safe use of medicines and medical devices.
Ms Sendiga said health was among the Government’s key priorities and had been incorporated into the Tanzania Development Vision 2050.
She said effective regulation of medicines was therefore essential to protecting citizens from products that could endanger their health.
“Citizens need accurate and timely information so they can make informed and safe decisions about medicines and medical devices,” she said.
The commissioner commended TMDA for engaging the media and providing journalists with information on the regulation of medicines, medical devices and diagnostic products.
She said the media had an important role in ensuring that information about medical products reached the public accurately and promptly.
TMDA Director of Human and Veterinary Medicines, Dr Yona Mwalwisi, said the authority continued to enforce the Medicines and Medical Devices Act, which mandates it to regulate the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines, medical devices and diagnostic products in Tanzania.
He said TMDA had made it a practice to meet editors and journalists annually in different parts of the country to discuss regulatory achievements, challenges and measures to improve public awareness.
Dr Mwalwisi cited a customer satisfaction survey conducted by the University of Dar es Salaam’s Business School in December 2022, covering 35 councils in 16 regions.
He said the survey showed that public awareness of TMDA had risen to 47 per cent in 2020, while satisfaction with the authority’s services stood at 82 per cent.
He attributed the progress partly to cooperation between TMDA and the media, particularly in educating the public on the proper use of medicines and medical devices and the dangers associated with counterfeit, substandard and unregistered products.
According to Dr Mwalwisi, TMDA has also made progress in strengthening Tanzania’s medical products regulatory system.
He said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had assessed TMDA at Level Three of regulatory system maturity, with the authority working towards attaining Level Four, the highest level.
Dr Mwalwisi said TMDA had expanded its post-market surveillance of medicines and vaccines to identify and respond to safety concerns after products enter the market.
He said the number of facilities involved in monitoring adverse effects of medicines and vaccines had increased to 33 across the country.
The authority had also expanded its mobile laboratory network from 19 to 28 units, enabling samples to be tested in different parts of the country more efficiently.
The meeting also sought to equip journalists with knowledge of the Medicines and Medical Devices Act, TMDA’s strategies for combating counterfeit and substandard products, and opportunities for investment in local manufacturing of medicines and other medical products.
Dr Mwalwisi said increased domestic production would help strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry and reduce reliance on imported medical products.
TMDA Legal Services Manager Martha Malle said the authority was planning to review the existing legal framework to pave the way for tougher penalties against people dealing in counterfeit, substandard and unregistered medicines.
She said TMDA, in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies, had continued operations against illegal medical products, resulting in several suspects being arrested and taken to court.
The proposed strengthening of penalties is expected to reinforce efforts to keep unsafe medical products out of the Tanzanian market while improving protection for consumers and strengthening confidence in the country’s healthcare system.
Ms Sendiga also called for increased research into traditional medicines, noting their contribution to healthcare in Tanzania and other countries.
“Traditional medicines have made a significant contribution to healthcare, and many countries use them,” she said.
