Tanzania is pushing to become a major African pharmaceutical producer with a new fast-track system for investors. The government formed a special task force to coordinate all license, permit, and registration approvals at once, aiming to cut through the usual bureaucratic delays. A call for investor interest is already out, with a deadline next March.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa admitted local manufacturers face tough issues like cheap imports, high power costs, and limited financing. He stressed that private companies must also invest in better technology and quality standards to compete. The minister pointed to a huge gap with regional neighbors, noting Tanzania's medicine exports are minuscule compared to Kenya's, blaming a failure to meet international manufacturing standards.
The plan emphasizes building a domestic industry for health security during crises and to stop being a dumping ground for outdated drugs no longer used in developed nations. The goal is to use local materials, create jobs, and make Tanzania a regional hub for next-generation medicines, moving away from dependence on foreign suppliers.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa admitted local manufacturers face tough issues like cheap imports, high power costs, and limited financing. He stressed that private companies must also invest in better technology and quality standards to compete. The minister pointed to a huge gap with regional neighbors, noting Tanzania's medicine exports are minuscule compared to Kenya's, blaming a failure to meet international manufacturing standards.
The plan emphasizes building a domestic industry for health security during crises and to stop being a dumping ground for outdated drugs no longer used in developed nations. The goal is to use local materials, create jobs, and make Tanzania a regional hub for next-generation medicines, moving away from dependence on foreign suppliers.
