The Medical Stores Department (MSD) of Tanzania has confirmed its readiness to support the second phase of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) programme as the government works to expand access to healthcare services nationwide.

During a visit by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and HIV/AIDS to the Central Medical Store in Dodoma, MSD Director General Mavere Tukai explained that the institution has already submitted its resource requirements to the government to ensure smooth implementation of the programme.

He emphasized that MSD’s readiness largely depends on the availability of adequate resources to meet the increasing demand for medicines and medical supplies across the country.MSD currently procures and distributes health commodities worth more than 1.2 trillion Tanzanian shillings annually to health facilities nationwide.

The institution is also strengthening its supply chain systems to ensure the timely delivery of quality medicines, medical equipment, and other essential health products in line with national healthcare priorities.These improvements aim to prepare the organization for the expected rise in demand once the UHI programme is fully expanded.

During the parliamentary visit, officials were briefed on MSD’s procurement, storage, and distribution systems, as well as ongoing efforts to maintain product quality in collaboration with the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) and other regulatory partners.Parliamentarians commended MSD for its critical role in supporting healthcare delivery and improving access to essential medical supplies.

However, they also urged the institution to continue strengthening its systems to meet growing healthcare needs and to improve public awareness of its operations.The committee highlighted that reliable access to medicines remains a key pillar for achieving universal health coverage in Tanzania.