DODOMA: THE Medical Stores Department (MSD) has announced a remarkable increase in revenue collections, soaring from 315.1bn/- in the 2021/22 fiscal year to an unprecedented 553.1bn/- in the 2023/24 Financial Year (FY).
This surge marks the highest revenue recorded since the establishment of the public owned institution, underscoring the effectiveness of recent aggressive investment strategies, an expanded investment scope and robust administrative reforms.
During the current financial year alone, MSD has already surpassed its targets, collecting 400.2bn/- between July 2024 and February 2025 equivalent to 115 per cent of its target.
This achievement is particularly noteworthy as it reflects the department’s commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of Tanzanians, with a distribution of medicines and medical equipment valued at 346.6bn/- in this FY.
This means, according to MSD Director General, Mr Mavere Tukai, collections are projected to increase up to over 600bn/- by the end of this FY, as he attributed this impressive growth to a combination of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and broadening the departments capacities to deliver.
MSD’s usual responsibilities include procuring, producing, storing and distributing health commodities to public health facilities and private facilities approved by the Ministry of Health.
“Our focus on aggressive investment plans and administrative reforms has not only improved our revenue collection but has also significantly enhanced our capacity to distribute essential medicines and medical equipment across the country,” Mr Tukai stated.
Mr Tukai was outlining key achievements obtained by MSD during four years of President Samia Suluhu Hassan in office.
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He told a media conference that with the ongoing reforms and strategic investments, his institution was poised to play a pivotal role in transforming the healthcare sector in Tanzania, ensuring that the nation’s health system is resilient and capable of meeting the challenges of the future.
Just a few years ago, MSD was staggering with financial challenges with President Samia directing that it needs general overhauling.
In 2022 when receiving the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) and the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) reports at State House in Chamwino, due to poor performance, back then, the Head of State directed the Ministry of Health to institute reforms at MSD.
And, in parliament, legislators expressed concerns that MSD was facing a huge challenge of limited capital amounting to 561.5bn/- that had affected its operations including failure to purchase all the required health commodities.
However, yesterday, Mr Tukai was quick to point out that MSD’s financial muscles were strong enough to offer medical facilities to all Tanzanians by over 90 per cent, as he paid tribute to the government under President Samia for the ongoing investments endeavours at MSD.
In another development, MSD Director General told reporters that his institution was implementing a project for distribution of dialysis machines in efforts to help Tanzanians with kidney complications as well as reducing the cost of dialysis services.
