Those who go to private health facilities can expect to spend a minimum
of Sh15,000 compared to public hospitals, where the cost is Sh5,
000.PHOTO|FILE
By Henry Mwangonde, The Citizen Correspondent
In Summary
Dar es Salaam. The Medical Stores Department
(MSD) now plans to enhance service delivery and promote local
manufacturing of medicine and medical equipment in a bid to cut import
expenses.
The agency announced that the government has
approved its plan to engage private sector players in the manufacture
and distribution of drugs for efficiency and cost management.
MSD acting director Cosmas Mwaifwani also revealed
they will, from January 2015, open 24-hour sales outlets in the regions
to serve health facilities and individuals. The centres will be opened
in Mbeya, Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Mwanza.
Mr Mwaifani told a press conference in Dar es
Salaam on Tuesday that the PPP plan will minimise the cost that the
entity uses in purchasing drugs outside the country as well as allow the
manufacturing of bulk health supplies locally to create jobs. He said
MSD currently uses $100 million (Over Sh165 billion) every year to
import drugs.
He named the bulk commodities that can be
manufactured locally as IV Fluids, syrups, cotton wool absorbent and
surgical gauze absorbent. He said they have engaged a consultant to
finalise the PPP plan.
He said MSD services would be run through the
second phase of the plan saying drugs will be sold through Strategic
Business Units in all the centres across the country.
He said MSD will establish 24 hours sales outlets
which will be selling on acknowledged price and will be administered by
the entity’s zonal offices in all the regions. The 24 hours sales
outlets will be opened in March next year beginning with Mbeya,Dar es
Salaam and later in June 2015 the regions of Mwanza and Arusha. He added
that his office will open up a hotline where all customers in need of
their services will dial and get advice or suggestions on ways that the
same could be improved.
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