Time to align medicine supply with reality

DAR ES SALAAM: THE recent directives issued by Minister for Health Mohammed Mchengerwa mark a critical turning point in Tanzania’s public health sector.

His call for an immediate review of pharmacies in public health facilities is not only timely but necessary, as it addresses a long-standing disconnect between reported performance and the lived experiences of patients. For years, official indicators have suggested that essential medicines are widely available across public health facilities.

However, citizens frequently encounter a different reality, being told that drugs are out of stock, only to be redirected to nearby private pharmacies where they must pay out of pocket. This contradiction undermines public trust and raises serious questions about accountability within the system.

By instructing the Government Chief Pharmacist to revise how medicine availability is measured, the minister is challenging a culture of complacency built on misleading statistics.

The emphasis on shifting from mere “availability” to “adequacy” is particularly significant. It is not enough for a facility to claim it has medicines in stock; those medicines must correspond to the actual needs outlined in the National Essential Medicines List.

This reform, if implemented effectively, could bring performance metrics closer to reality and ensure that health facilities are evaluated based on meaningful service delivery rather than technical compliance.

Equally important is the minister’s insistence on strict adherence to Standard Treatment Guidelines.

The continued practice of prescribing drugs by brand names instead of generic ones is not just inefficient, it can be exploitative.

It opens the door for manipulation, where patients are misled into believing that only certain branded drugs are available, often at a cost. Enforcing generic prescribing is a simple yet powerful step toward transparency, cost-effectiveness and fairness in healthcare delivery.

ALSO READ: Tanzania, India agree to integrate the traditional medicine system with modern healthcare

The role of pharmacists, as highlighted in the directive, also deserves strong support. Too often, pharmacists are relegated to logistical roles, seen merely as custodians of medicine stores.

In reality, they are essential professionals whose expertise is crucial in ensuring rational drug use, proper stock management and an efficient supply chain.

Integrating them into decision-making at all levels of health facility management is not just good practice, it is indispensable for a functional health system. Moreover, the scrutiny of public health facility pharmacies is long overdue.

These pharmacies were established to complement the public supply system, not to replace or undermine it.

Reports that patients are being forced to purchase medicines they are entitled to receive for free point to systemic weaknesses and, in some cases, unethical behaviour. Such practices must be addressed decisively to restore integrity in public healthcare.