MPs commend expansion of MSD investment scope

DODOMA: MEMBERS of Parliament have commended the government for expanding the investment scope of Medical Stores Department (MSD), noting that the move will help to lower treatment and drug costs.

The lawmakers were debating the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No.2) Bill 2024 presented in the National Assembly on Tuesday by the Attorney General (AG) Mr Hamza Johari.

The bill proposed amendment to eight laws, namely, the Medical Stores Department Act, Cap. 70, Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act, Cap. 432, the Criminal Procedure Act, Cap. 20 and the e- Government Act, Cap. 273,

Other laws which were amended include the Immigration Act, Cap. 54, the Land Act, Cap. 113, the Standards Act, Cap. 130 and the Planning Commission Act, Cap. 127.

Under the Medical Stores Department Act, Cap. 70, the bill amended section 16A to remove the mandatory requirement for MSD to invest solely in investments authorised under the Trustees Investment Act.

The adjustment aims to expand the scope of MSD’s investments and enable it to operate commercially as a strategic public institution, subject to directives that may be issued by the Treasury Registrar and other relevant authorities.

Contributing, Singida North MP Abeid Ighondo (CCM) said that the amendment of the section 16A of the law will broaden investment scope of MSD especially in pharmaceutical industries to produce medicines and other medical supplies.

“We all understand the high cost of medicines and medical equipment in the country; therefore, these changes will expand the investment scope of MSD, which will help to lower these costs.”

Manyoni West MP Yahaya Masare said that despite being an institution which is concern with safety of medicines and other medical supplies MSD has been operating under restrictive legislation.

Manyoni West MP Yahaya Masare said that, despite being an institution concerned with the safety of medicines and other medical supplies, in the country, MSD has been operating under restrictive legislation.

“These amendments will provide relief to the MSD by allowing it to expand its investments,” he said.

He noted that since MSD has been tasked with supplying medicines, medical and laboratory equipment to 16 member states of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), the amendment of the legislation has opened doors for the institution to trade with other entities.

The MP commended the government for implementing changes that will transform MSD’s operations.

The amendment to the e-Government Act, Cap. 273, Section 57, has increased the penalties for offences related to the removal or destruction of data, electronic records, ICT infrastructure and ICT equipment.

The adjustment aims to ensure that the penalties are sufficiently stringent, reflecting the seriousness of these offences.

Under the Standards Act, Cap. 130, section 25 has been amended to allow the owner of defective commodities to take corrective and preventive action or repair the defective commodity.

The change aims to ensure accountability and to prevent the supply and consumption of sub-standard commodities.

The government also amended Section 27 in order to compute penalties basing on the nature and frequency of the offence committed to ensure proportionality of penalties in the Act.