Tanzania 1st African nation to reach WHO top medicine scheme

Tanzania 1st African nation to reach WHO top medicine scheme

The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed Tanzania as the first African country to have achieved a well-functioning regulatory system for medical products.

Earlier this year, WHO conducted an evaluation of the country’s regulatory authorities; Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) and the Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency.

In the assessment, it found that Tanzania FDA met all indicators that define a maturity level 3 agency, which is the second highest on WHO’s scale and the target for regulatory systems globally.

WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Matshidiso Moeti lauded the country for the achievement.

“This is a major African milestone and we are very proud of Tanzania’s achievement, which we hope will inspire other countries in the region,” she said.

In light of this, a WHO report reveals that less than 30 percent of the world’s medicines regulatory authorities are considered to have the capacity to perform the functions required to ensure medicines, vaccines and other health products actually work and do not harm patients.

Only 7 percent of African countries have moderately developed capacity, with more than 90 percent having minimal or no capacity.

Dr. Moeti therefore emphasised the need for quality medication, if countries are to improve health outcomes.

“Access to medicines alone, without quality assurance, is not enough…. If countries want to improve health outcomes, they first need to ensure access to safe and quality medical products that actually work and benefit patients,” said Dr. Moeti.

Core functions of National Medicines Regulatory Agencies (NMRAs) include: licensing of manufacturing establishments, imports and export control, inspection of manufacturing premises and distribution channels of medicine, market surveillance (product quality monitoring, control of drug promotion and advertising); quality control, and oversight of clinical trials on drugs.

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World Health Organisation (WHO) Dr Matshidiso Moeti Tanzania Food and Drug Authority (TFDA) Zanzibar Food and Drug Agency

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