PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has warned health workers in public health facilities to stop directing patients go to buy the prescribed medicines from private pharmacies.
Speaking on Saturday, the premier said that all the patients visiting public health centres and dispensaries should instead access medicines at the respective facilities or be directed to government pharmacies within the public hospitals.
He vowed stern measures against the medics who will be found sending patients to private pharmacies to buy prescribed medicines.
“I hereby direct you (doctors and nurses at public health centres and dispensaries) to stop stressing the ‘wananchi’ by directing them where they should go and buy prescribed medicines,” he warned.
He pointed out that majority of the private drug stores near public hospitals are established and operated by doctors and nurses working at public health facilities.
He ordered such doctors and nurses with operating private pharmacies near public health facilities to get rid of such evil tendency as well as stop directing patients to buy prescribed medicines from their private drugstores.
He said the government provides enough funds to every municipal council in the country after every three months to purchase and supply medicines to all public dispensaries and health centres to serve the public.
He gave an example of Mtwara District Council and Nanyamba Town Council where the government provides funds after every three months to purchase and supply medicines to dispensaries and health centres within the area.
Addressing the public at Mkunwa Ward in Mtwara District Council, Mr Majaliwa said the government provides 105m/- after every three months for buying drugs from the Medical Stores Department (MSD) for supply in health centres and dispensaries in the District Council.
For Nanyamba Town Council the Premier said the government provides 198m/- to carter for medicines at health facilities within the town council.
Addressing a public rally at Nanyamba Town Council in Mtwara Region, the premier directed Mtwara Regional Medical Officer to carry out thorough inspection in each health facility within the region and bring into book those (public health workers) operating private pharmacies near public hospitals.
He also directed the Regional Medical Officers (RMOs) to ensure public dispensaries and health centres are supplied with enough and required medicines timely.
Meanwhile, Mr Majaliwa directed municipal councils countrywide to establish primary schools in each village to enable all children in Tanzania to have access to education.
He said the plan should go in line with establishing nursery schools for children.
He asked councillors in district councils to collaborate with the primary education officers as well as the district councils to ensure that schools are built.
He said building primary schools in each village is a government’s strategic plan towards improving learning conditions for pupils in the country, including availing education to all.
