THE Tanzanian government has hailed the local industries for supplying over 20 percent of the country’s medical requirements, as efforts are being intensified to raise domestic production to 60 percent by 2035.
Speaking in Parliament, Minister for Industry and Trade, Judith Kapinga, said the country currently has 14 pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing plants contributing to improved access to essential medicines and reduced reliance on imports.
She named key producers including Zenufa Laboratories, Shelys Pharmaceuticals, and Keko Pharmaceuticals, noting that the firms continue to expand production capacity for medicines and medical supplies.
Additionally, she said that during the 2025/2026 financial year, 11 new factories began trial production, manufacturing tablets, liquid medicines, laboratory reagents, and medical equipment.
The expansion has generated more than 4,200 direct jobs and over 21,000 indirect employment opportunities across the value chain, she said.
According to the minister, the newly established facilities have, as of April 2026, produced more than 1.2 billion units of human medicines, marking a significant step toward strengthening Tanzania’s pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.