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 Tanzania - Country Initiatives
Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets Tanzanians in rural and poor urban areas often rely on duka la dawa baridi, or private drug shops, to get their medicines when public dispensaries and health centers have insufficient stock. Duka la dawa baridi are licensed to sell only nonprescription medicines, but typically they provide a much broader range of products and services. To improve the availability and affordability of essential
Incentives for attaining accreditation are built into this initiative, including—
An innovative regulatory system, using local government officials deputized as inspectors by the TFDA, helps ensure that accredited shops maintain approved standards, and that nonaccredited shops do not compete unfairly by continuing to sell prescription drugs. Data on sales and profitability will be gathered to measure the initiative's success. Selecting Alternative Suppliers
To help decrease the frequency of stock-outs, SEAM, in collaboration with the Mission for Essential Medical Supplies (MEMS), is implementing a program to help member faith-based facilities select an alternative supplier with reasonable prices. This initiative is also supported by the Christian Social Services Commission, an umbrella organization of Protestant and Catholic churches established to help with the provision of health and education services. Several steps have been taken in preparation for the launch of the alternative supplier program in fall 2003. First, SEAM selected a list of qualified vendors using an Internet-based prequalification process. To further refine the list of vendors, a request for proposal will be issued to obtain technical and pricing information. MSH's Quantimed software was used, in conjunction with the results from assessments conducted at 12 MEMS member hospitals, to compile a list of projected annual drug and supply requirements. Launch of the Quality Assurance Program
To help address quality concerns, SEAM, in collaboration with the Tanzania Ministry of Health and the Pharmacy Board, launched the Drug Inspection and Testing Quality Assurance Program in October 2002. Representatives of the Tanzania Port Authority, the Tanzania Association of Pharmaceutical Importers, and the Tanzania Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association participated in the launch of the program. Testing equipment for the program was purchased with the support of the World Health Organization. Nine certified inspectors are now in place, conducting inspections of pharmaceutical providers in targeted regions. Implementation of the Quality Assurance Program will continue in phases, allowing the Pharmacy Board to gradually build the capacity to conduct regular inspections, which in turn will promote the long-term sustainability of the program. The Quality Assurance Program will use rapid screening of imported drugs at ports of entry by Pharmacy Board inspectors, development of a national quality-testing program, and postmarketing surveillance of drug products in the marketplace to help assure that both imported drugs and those locally manufactured are of good quality. SEAM anticipates that this program will serve as a model for other countries. |
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Welcome | Background | Country Programs | Collaboration Copyright ©1999-2005 Management Sciences for Health, Inc. All rights reserved. |
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ADDOs sell only drug products for which they have market authorization from the TFDA, and their employees have completed courses covering both management and medical aspects of the ADDO business. Courses include training about prescription drugs approved for sale in the shops.
Inadequate availability of essential medicines in public and mission health facilities is generally the result of supply gaps at the Medical Stores Department (MSD), which serves as the primary local distributor. Due to high demand, the MSD is able to meet only 65 to 70 percent of supply requests. In an attempt to fill MSD supply gaps, many facilities purchase supplies from local private pharmacies, which charge much higher rates. 
Poor-quality drugs, including counterfeits, are widely found in Tanzania, especially in the private sector. It is estimated that half the drugs on the market are not registered with the Pharmacy Board. And due to resource constraints faced by the Board, it is not currently feasible to perform regular inspection of all the organizations that provide pharmaceutical products and services in the country.