Tanzania Pharmaceutial Students' Association - MUHAS Chapter

All over the world, on Friday 25 September, pharmacists celebrate World Pharmacists Day. This special day, now in its fifth year, was established by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the global federation of national associations of pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, which is in official relations with the World Health Organization. . The purpose of World Pharmacists Day is to encourage activities that promote and advocate for the role of the pharmacist in improving health in every corner of the world. This year’s theme, developed by FIP, is “ Pharmacist(s): your partner(s) in health” .  Medicines must go hand in hand with pharmaceutical expertise, or in other words, with pharmacists. This partnership is essential to the responsible use of medicines. But other partnerships are also important. Every day three million pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists around the world act as partners to patients, other health care professionals and other...

In the past,   duka la dawa baridi in Tanzania were authorized to sell nonprescription medicines. However, a 2001 assessment showed that many shops sold prescription drugs illegally and that the drug sellers were generally unqualified and untrained. In response, the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA) worked with Management Sciences for Health (MSH) to develop and launch the accredited drug dispensing outlet (ADDO) program—or   Duka la Dawa Muhimu —in 2003 in Ruvuma region. The goal of the ADDO program was to improve access to affordable, quality medicines and pharmaceutical services in areas where few or no registered pharmacies existed. The program’s primary activities include— Developing accreditation based on Ministry of Health and Social Welfare-instituted standards and regulations Creating a strong public sector-based regulatory and inspection system and strengthening local regulatory processes and capacity Developing drug shop owners’ business skills ...