Author: PIUS RUGONZIBWA
AfricaPress-Tanzania: THE Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) has strengthened the inspectorate of medicines, diagnostics and medical devices by launching 524 smart cards to be used by pharmaceutical inspectors countrywide.
The new developments come amidst incidents of unscrupulous people who used to forge identity cards and posed themselves as inspectors from the former Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) and used them to obtain money fraudulently from pharmaceutical dealers and shop owners.
During the launch that took place on Wednesday, Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Prof Mabula Mchembe, challenged TMDA to use the new innovation effectively.
“The National Health Policy makes it very clear when it comes to safety and quality of all medicines and medical devices and the launch of these new smart IDs proves that the government is determined to end tricky and deadly games in the country,” he said.
The PS also tasked TMDA to collaborate with security organs to ensure the new cards remained secure and were not misused and ensured regular training of inspectors who would be using them in their work.
While he stressed public education on the new inspection system using new cards, Prof Mchembe also directed TMDA to train workers in pharmacy and dealers in how they could identify genuine inspectors and accord them cooperation.
Earlier, TMDA Acting Director-General Adam Fimbo said new smart and highly secured IDs had been prepared to be supplied to 137 inspectors from his office while 387 IDs would be supplied to inspectors from the Local Government Authorities (LGAs).
“These IDS should be worn all the time during inspections and in case of any doubt anybody can verify them, using special features and even using smart phones and in so doing it will be easy to detect and eventually arrest bogus inspectors,” he said.
According to Mr Fimbo, security features in the new IDs cannot be tempered as was the case with the previous ones. He added that TMDA would diligently ensure everything went well.
TMDA Advisory Board Chairman Erick Shitindi said a number of issues affecting the performance of TMDA, including a shortage of inspectors at some stop border posts asking for the ministry to address it.
Besides TMDA staff and board members, the launch was also attended by inspectors from the Lake Zone appointed to inspect and ensure the local market remained safe and was not a dumping place for substandard medicines, diagnostics and other medical devices.
