Govt lures investors to pharmaceutical sector

THE government has called upon members of diplomatic corps in Tanzania to encourage investors in their country to invest in the country’s pharmaceutical sector.

Speaking during the opening Pharmatech East Africa exhibitions in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday, the Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Godwin Mollel said the government was taking measures to improve the business and investment environment so as to make Tanzania an attractive investment destination.

“We are ready to host investors. We welcome them to come and invest in the country in the pharmaceutical industries. We urge ambassadors here in the country to encourage investors in their countries to come to invest in the pharmaceutical industry because President Samia Suluhu Hassan has prioritized putting in place an enabling environment for investment,” he emphasized.

Various stakeholders of the pharmaceutical sector, both public and private, attended the event and exhibited their products and services at the Diamond Jubilee Hall in the city.

The deputy minister commended the Pharmaceutical Society of Tanzania (PST) for organizing the event in the country.

Dr Mollel said the event was important in bringing together dealers of medicines from within and outside the country.

He told the participants to support government in controlling soaring prices of medicines.

“It is important for all of to think of how we can control rising prices of medicine. We should look at joint efforts with suppliers of drugs to address high prices of drugs,” the deputy minister stated.

“Though dealers of medicines conduct business, they should not only look at profits but also consider welfare of the people, they must not be after high profits.”

He promised that the government would accord the dealers enough cooperation, saying the government was ready to support them..

PST president Fadhil Hezekiah said the exhibitions have been held in supporting government’s efforts to realize the goals of ensuring that medicines availability increases at affordable prices.

Over 120 companies from both within and outside the country have participated in the exhibitions.

“During the exhibitions we will provide education on how people can venture into pharmaceutical business,” he said.