Why Tanzania’s journey towards pharmaceutical self-reliance is promising

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA is steadily building a new future for its pharmaceutical industry, with rising investment in local manufacturing marking a decisive shift towards greater self-reliance in healthcare.

As new factories take shape and production capacity expands, the country is laying the foundation for a stronger health system while unlocking fresh opportunities for industrial growth, employment and regional trade.

The momentum reflects the government’s determination to reduce dependence on imported medicines and medical supplies, which have for decades exposed the health sector to global supply disruptions, rising procurement costs and volatile international markets.

The vision is anchored in President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s broader agenda of building a resilient economy driven by value addition and local production.

Within the health sector, the goal is clear: reduce dependence on imported medicines and medical equipment while creating an enabling environment for investors to establish manufacturing industries capable of meeting growing domestic demand.

Recent developments suggest that the strategy is beginning to bear fruit. Investor interest in Tanzania’s pharmaceutical sector has continued to grow as government reforms improve the investment climate and expand opportunities for manufacturers.

The latest commitments by international pharmaceutical companies signal increasing confidence in the country’s longterm potential and its ambition to become a major producer of medicines in the region.

Recognising the strategic importance of the sector, President Samia directed government institutions to give closer attention to pharmaceutical manufacturing and ensure investors receive the support required to establish industries in the country.

Speaking during a swearingin ceremony for leaders at Chamwino State House in Dodoma, President Samia instructed Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health responsible for Medicines and Medical Equipment, Mr Emmanuel Tayari to closely supervise all activities related to pharmaceutical investments and ensure that implementation moves at the required pace.

Her message reflected the government’s determination to remove long-standing obstacles that have slowed investment despite growing interest from local and international companies.

The directive marked more than a routine administrative instruction. It demonstrated the government’s intention to shift from promoting investment to ensuring that projects are successfully implemented.

By assigning direct oversight, the President underscored the importance of coordination between government institutions and investors in achieving Tanzania’s pharmaceutical ambitions.

President Samia also set an ambitious target of achieving at least 80 per cent self-sufficiency in medicines and medical supplies by 2030.

Achieving that goal will require sustained investment, supportive policies, efficient regulation and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Industry stakeholders said the target is ambitious but achievable if the current pace of investment continues and implementation challenges are addressed promptly.

The President’s directive comes as Tanzania continues to strengthen its reputation as an emerging destination for pharmaceutical investment.

A combination of political stability, policy reforms, an expanding domestic market and access to regional markets has made the country increasingly attractive to manufacturers looking to establish production facilities in East Africa.

For the government, expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing is not simply about increasing the number of factories.

It is about strengthening national health security by ensuring that essential medicines can be produced closer to the people who need them while reducing the country’s dependence on imports.

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That strategy is now being translated into practical investment decisions through the Ministry of Health, which has intensified engagement with companies interested in manufacturing medicines and medical equipment in Tanzania.

Health Minister Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa said attracting investors into pharmaceutical manufacturing has become a key component of the country’s broader healthcare transformation agenda.

According to him, expanding domestic production will not only strengthen the availability of medicines but also build a sustainable industry capable of supporting Tanzania’s long-term development goals.

The government’s commitment has recently attracted two major international pharmaceutical companies that have chosen Tanzania as their next investment destination.

Following a meeting with executives of China’s Africare Biopharma Ltd and Hualan Ankang Biologics Inc in Dar es Salaam, Mr Mchengerwa announced that the two companies have committed to establishing pharmaceutical factories in Kurasini, Dar es Salaam and Bagamoyo in the Coast Region.

Construction of the factories is expected to begin in September this year, with the projects scheduled for completion within two years.

Once operational, the plants will manufacture a range of medicines, including drugs for HIV prevention, diabetes, hepatitis and other diseases commonly used in Tanzania.

The investment marks another step towards expanding local pharmaceutical production and reducing the country’s reliance on imported medicines.

“We are ready as the Ministry of Health to work closely with committed investors and resolve any challenges they may encounter to ensure President Samia’s vision of building a self-reliant pharmaceutical industry becomes a reality,” Mr Mchengerwa said.

He said the government’s immediate objective is to ensure that by next year at least 65 per cent of medical equipment used in Tanzania is produced locally.

By 2030, more than 65 per cent of medicines consumed in the country are expected to be manufactured domestically, significantly reducing dependence on imports.

Beyond improving medicine availability, local manufacturing is expected to generate employment opportunities for scientists, pharmacists, engineers and other skilled professionals while encouraging technology transfer and strengthening research and innovation within the health sector.

For international investors, Tanzania offers more than a growing domestic market.

It provides access to a regional consumer base through the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), creating opportunities to produce locally while supplying neighbouring countries.

Deputy General Manager of Hualan Ankang Biologics Inc, Mr Ray Liu, said favourable investment policies, political stability and the government’s commitment to supporting investors influenced the company’s decision to establish operations in Tanzania.

He said the company intends to complete the investment within two years and contribute to the country’s ambition of becoming a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing centre.

The latest investment commitments reflect a trend that government officials say has been building over the past few years.

Deputy Permanent Secretary Mr Emmanuel Tayari said the establishment of the Mloganzila pharmaceutical manufacturing hub has become one of the key drivers of investment in the sector.

Designed specifically to support pharmaceutical industries, the hub provides investors with an environment intended to accelerate project implementation and encourage collaboration across the industry.

According to Mr Tayari, several major investors have already started implementing projects at the Mloganzila industrial area, while others continue to express interest in entering Tanzania’s pharmaceutical market.

Among them is a Chinese company listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange that plans to produce generic medicines.

He attributes the growing investor interest to deliberate government reforms, improved investment conditions and expanding market opportunities.

To sustain this momentum, the government established the Pharmaceutical Investment Acceleration Task Force, which works closely with investors by facilitating approvals, coordinating institutions and helping resolve challenges that may delay implementation.

Such interventions, he said, have improved investor confidence by reducing administrative bottlenecks and creating a more predictable investment environment.

Mr Tayari also believes Tanzania’s geographical position offers a competitive advantage.

Situated at the centre of rapidly growing regional markets, the country provides pharmaceutical manufacturers with access not only to more than 60 million consumers at home but also to hundreds of millions of consumers across the EAC and SADC regions.