WAF, Johannesburg: The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has been appointed as the Host of the SADC Pharmaceutical Procurement Scheme (SPPS), a move that is based on the trust placed in Tanzania’s leadership within the community and its proven track record as a country with peace, stability and good diplomatic relations.
Speaking on February 24, 2026, during the SADC Health Ministers’ and Ministers Responsible for AIDS Affairs Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Florence Samizi, said the appointment is a sign of great confidence placed in Tanzania in successfully managing the regional programme.
Dr. Samizi, said Tanzania’s selection to host the SPPS goes hand in hand with the strengthening of the role of the Medicines Depot (MSD) as the main hub for the procurement, storage and distribution of medicines and medical supplies in the country and in the SADC region, where it will facilitate reliable access to medicines and medical supplies and reduce procurement costs through joint procurement.
“This step will facilitate the reduction of prices of medicines and medical supplies due to joint procurement, in parallel with simplifying the supply chain of these products to SADC member countries,” said Dr. Samizi.
He said that through the SPPS, MSD will benefit from increasing institutional capacity, expanding the scope of its services regionally and stimulating the use of Tanzania’s ports and infrastructure as a gateway for health products to SADC countries, a step that will increase employment, trade and income for the nation.
Dr. Samizi said local manufacturers will benefit from using SPPS as a gateway to access the wider SADC market, a move that will stimulate the growth of local industries and increase the competitiveness of locally produced health products.
Regarding preparations, Dr. Samizi said Tanzania has already set immediate readiness by preparing a working environment including offices and systems for the implementation of the SPPS hosting plan.
He said the systems have been developed by local experts, to ensure that the implementation is digital, transparent and efficient.
He said MSD’s experience and capacity in managing the pharmaceutical supply chain, modern warehouse infrastructure and digital systems for managing health products, have contributed to Tanzania being trusted to host SPPS and the Government will continue to collaborate with the Secretariat and various development stakeholders to ensure that the SPPS plan is successfully implemented for the benefit of Tanzania and the entire SADC region.
