Tanzanian Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa has stated that the country will prioritize local production of medicine, health products, and medical equipment to reduce reliance on imports and enhance healthcare security. He made these remarks at a meeting in New York, USA, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The meeting, organized by the Government of Sierra Leone, focused on sustaining gains in reducing maternal and child mortality rates.
Mchengerwa emphasized Tanzania's commitment to the African Union's Champion Roadmap 2026-2030, which aims to achieve "Triple Zero" goals, including eliminating maternal and child mortality, reducing preventable deaths, and ensuring all children are vaccinated. Tanzania's President, Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, is a champion of this initiative. Mchengerwa highlighted the government's efforts to improve healthcare services, including expanding health insurance and increasing access to essential healthcare for mothers and children.
The Tanzanian government is exploring various funding sources to strengthen the healthcare sector, including partnerships with the private sector, healthcare financing, electronic payment systems, and tourism revenue. The government is also increasing budget allocations for primary healthcare and emergency services for mothers and newborns. Mchengerwa stressed the importance of local production, citing that Africa spends over $28 billion annually on medicine and health products, mostly imported.
Mchengerwa noted that relying on imports can expose countries to supply chain challenges and global price fluctuations. To mitigate this, Tanzania has made local production of medicine, health products, and medical equipment a national priority. This move is not only economic but also crucial for enhancing healthcare security. Local production will ensure that healthcare facilities receive essential supplies even during global supply chain disruptions.
The Health Minister called on African Union member states and development partners to collaborate on investing in the healthcare sector, technology transfer, and industrial policies to boost local production of health products. He emphasized the need to build regional value chains, strengthen regulatory authorities, and support African innovation. Tanzania aims to ensure essential healthcare services are available within a 5-kilometer radius of every community.
The 81st United Nations General Assembly, with the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation," brings together representatives from 193 member states to discuss global issues, including peace and security, climate change, artificial intelligence, global health, and sustainable development. Mchengerwa's participation in the meeting highlights Tanzania's commitment to addressing global health challenges.
Tanzania's efforts to reduce reliance on imported medicine and strengthen local production are part of a broader strategy to improve healthcare services and achieve sustainable development goals. The country's progress in this area will be closely watched by international partners and stakeholders. By prioritizing local production and healthcare development, Tanzania aims to enhance healthcare security and improve health outcomes for its citizens.
Key points
- Tanzania aims to boost local production of medicine and health products to reduce reliance on imports.
