By The Arusha News Reporter.
Arusha will start producing HIV/AIDS antiretroviral (ARV) pills in the next three months, marking a significant step towards reviving the long-dormant Tanzania Pharmaceutical Company (TPC) and improving the country’s supply of medicinal drugs.
The directive was issued in Arusha recently by the Minister for Health, Mr Mohamed Mchengerwa, where he ordered the allocation of Sh25 billion to repair machinery and start production at the state-owned factory, which has been dormant for nearly a decade.
The plant is expected to begin trials in May, with full production slated for June, churning out an estimated 1.7 million pills in a 10-hour shift. The move aims to reduce dependence on imported medicines, lower production costs and ensure uninterrupted access to life-saving ARVs across public health facilities.
Tanzania continues to face a significant HIV/AIDS burden, with national data indicating that about 1.5 million adults live with HIV, which leads to AIDS. The figure represents an adult prevalence rate of about 4.4 per cent, with an estimated 60,000 new infections occurring each year. Thus, the government move underscores the importance of sustained access to treatment for patients who rely on lifelong antiretroviral therapy.
TPC was established to manufacture essential medicines, including antiretroviral drugs, but operations stalled in the early 2010s due to a combination of factors, including competition from cheaper imported medicines, outdated equipment and difficulties in meeting international quality standards.
The factory also faced limited policy support and procurement preference for locally produced medicines, which further undermined the plant’s viability, eventually forcing it to close. The decision to revive it comes in the wake of global funding uncertainties following the United States decision to halt or scale down support for HIV/AIDS treatment in several African countries, including Tanzania.
The minister said strengthening local production capacity was critical to protecting national HIV/AIDS programmes from external shocks.
“By reviving local production of antiretroviral medicines, we are taking a decisive step to protect our HIV/AIDS treatment programmes from external uncertainties and ensure that Tanzanians have reliable access to life-saving medicines,” the minister said.
Health sector stakeholders have welcomed the decision, describing the revival of the Arusha-based plant as a major step towards self-reliance and the long-term sustainability of HIV/AIDS intervention programmes.
