Skip to main content
Advertisement
Browse Subject Areas
?

Click through the PLOS taxonomy to find articles in your field.

For more information about PLOS Subject Areas, click here.

  • Loading metrics

Pharmaceuticals imports in Tanzania: Overview of private sector market size, share, growth and projected trends to 2021

  • Dickson Pius Wande,

    Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Methodology, Validation, Writing – original draft

    Affiliation Department of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacy practice, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Raphael Zozimus Sangeda,

    Roles Formal analysis, Validation, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Prosper Tibalinda,

    Roles Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Pharmaceutical R&D Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Innocent Kairuki Mutta,

    Roles Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation The Hubert Kairuki Memorial University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Sonia Mkumbwa,

    Roles Data curation, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Adonis Bitegeko,

    Roles Data curation, Writing – review & editing

    Affiliation Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority, Ministry of Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

  • Eliangiringa Kaale

    Roles Conceptualization, Formal analysis, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing

    elia.kaale@gmail.com

    Affiliations Pharmaceutical R&D Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Background

To assess the extent to which foreign pharmaceutical imports vary from year to year and identifying leading generic and branded formulations, key countries and key importers of pharmaceuticals in private sector supply chain.

Methodology

A systematic analysis of data for pharmaceutical imports from the Ministry of Health.Data from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years and relevant documents were accessed from the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). Data cleaning was carried out to remove duplicate entries and to exclude pharmaceutical imports for individual uses, promotion purpose, donations, raw material, medical devices, government institutions and veterinary products.

Results

A total of 397 different suppliers imported pharmaceutical in Tanzania mainland from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years. In the 2013–2014 fiscal year, the private sector suppliers imported pharmaceutical worth 216 U.S million dollars. India ranked as the first country for exporting highest value of pharmaceutical into the country. It displays a 54% cumulative market share of total imports from 2013–2016, followed by Egypt (11.7%), Switzerland and the USA hold 4.1% of cumulative market share. By 2020–2021 fiscal years, we forecast for imported pharmaceuticals to reach a total value of 906 U.S million dollars for the private sector supply chain. All analysis in this study and the forecasted figures are limited to private sector pharmaceutical supply chain only and does not include data for government pharmaceutical supply chain.

Conclusions

Our result shows that the vast majority of pharmaceutical imports in the private sector supply chain are dominated by imports from India. India is competing with other countries such as Egypt, Switzerland, USA and South Africa among the top importing countries. There was almost an equal distribution of pharmaceutical for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Data presented shows a growing trend for the market segment for medicines required for the management of non-communicable diseases. Generally, the private sector pharmaceutical market is keeping on rising at a rapid pace. By the year 2021, the growth is forecasted to increase by 28% compared to the current market value. The projected growth rate could be good news for foreign pharmaceutical companies seeking new sources of growth in international pharmaceutical trading. It is also good news to the poor patients if the availability of drugs previously unavailable in the country is significantly increased.

Introduction

Background

The United Republic of Tanzania is a union between Tanganyika and Zanzibar, which was formed in April 1964. Occupying an area of approximately 945,100 sq km, it is the largest country in East Africa. The pharmaceutical supply chain in Tanzania mainland is administered by the private distributors and public distributor (Medical stores department (MSD), which is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Elderly and Children). The private sector is predominant in urban and cities areas whereas the MSD covers throughout the country including urban, rural and hard to reach areas.

During the year the 1990s to 2005, domestic pharmaceutical production supplied approximately 30% of the domestic pharmaceutical market and about 10% of local production was exported[1]. Of recent, there has been a significant decline in domestic production of pharmaceuticals. In the year 2014, it was reported that domestic production accounts for only 12% of total demand[2], leading to raised importation, falling exports to less than US$1.7 million[3]and recording negligible average pharmaceutical export share of gross domestic product (GDP). Domestic manufacturers are mainly concerned with the production of generic medicines. The domestic pharmaceutical market is now supplied almost entirely by imports paid in US dollars[4]In 2018, there were more than twelve (12) registered pharmaceutical plants in Tanzania. Among the registered plants, only five were categorized as TFDA GMP compliant pharmaceutical plants. They are namely; Shelys Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Zenufa Laboratories Ltd, Pharma Centre, Prince Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Tanzania Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (ARV production line)(5). Shelys Pharmaceuticals Ltd holds a 70% share of locally manufactured pharmaceutical in the country [5].

The dwindling trend for domestic production can be ascribed to lack of competitive advantage in the market price of locally produced pharmaceuticals compared to imported medicines[6] and difficulties in achieving economies of scale[7]. In addition, the cost of importing raw materials are becoming ever more expensive for local manufacturers as a result of the depreciating value of the local currency against the US dollar[8]. Conversely, even when pharmaceuticals are produced locally, there are sometimes doubts about quality given some reports of non-compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)[911]. In a nutshell, the make or import dilemma[12], as faced by the other African countries, in Tanzania the importation of pharmaceuticals have become inevitable. The extent to which foreign pharmaceutical imports vary from different countries has not been studied in Tanzania. This study tries to generate a clear picture of the pharmaceutical market potential in private sector supply chain and identifying key pharmaceutical importers. This type of study can help to formulate strategies for improving pharmaceutical supply chains and forecast needs of the country or identifying potential areas of investment within the pharmaceutical sector. This could also help other foreign manufacturers to identify potential local technical representatives (LTR) for the pharmaceutical business opportunities in private sector pharmaceutical markets. Besides, the displayed data on market positions of different competitors could further help them to develop strategic business planning in the private sector pharmaceutical market in the country. Furthermore, from policymaking perspectives, the data presented could also benefit the Ministry of Health as well as the Ministry of Industry & Trade and Tanzania Investment Center. For the ministry of health, the data may be a useful reference for revising its national essential drug list and could be used for enticing industrialization in the country by the latter.

Thus, the aim of this paper is to shed light on the trend of pharmaceutical imports in Tanzania, with a special interest in private sector pharmaceutical supply chain. The specific goals are to 1) providing insights into new potential pharmaceutical markets; 2) identify key market players, trends and projections in the private sector pharmaceutical supply chain. The new insight on emerging trends could strengthen pharmaceutical business activities in the private market as well as may influence public policy-making regarding pharmaceuticals supply chain in Tanzania.

Methods

A systematic analysis of pharmaceutical imports raw data from the Ministry of Health, Community Development, Elderly and Children were employed. Requests for raw data and relevant documents were submitted to the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA). The TFDA released selected attributes of the raw data for imported pharmaceuticals in the United Republic of Tanzania (mainland) from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years.

Data cleaning was carried out to remove duplicate data and to exclude pharmaceutical imports for individual uses, pharmaceuticals for promotion purpose, donations, raw material, medical devices, government institutions and veterinary products. Due to recent programmatic changes in the procurement policy for pharmaceuticals by the MSD, data presented here covers an exhaustive review for the pharmaceutical supply chain in the private health sector only. Data were analyzed using PivotTables (Microsoft office excel 2016). All forecasts were carried out using exponential smoothing method (13). The exponential smoothing model of forecasting was adopted on the basis that all-time series of numbers (years and corresponding import values) were available as per consistent and precise historical data on pharmaceutical importation accrued from TFDA.

Results

A Systematic review of importation of various products that are currently under TFDA regulation from 2013–2016 is presented. The total import worth a cumulative value of 808 million USD was recorded from the analysed data. The incoterm adopted by TDFA for all international transactions is free on board (FOB). All data (values) are reported in USD currency. Table 1 displays the values (USD) of various products that were imported into Tanzania mainland. Human medicinal products displayed the highest value compared to all other regulated products that were imported by the private sector pipeline.

thumbnail
Table 1. Categories of all products that were imported in the Private sector supply chain from 2013–2016.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t001

Human medicinal products (HMPs)

Based on declared FOB values of commercial invoices by importers to Tanzania mainland, approximately 740 US million dollars were spent for the 2013–2016 fiscal years for importing HMPs in the private sector supply chain pipeline. Table 2 summarises total value of pharmaceutical imports that were imported by private suppliers from 2013 to 2016 in Tanzania mainland.

thumbnail
Table 2. Total transactions and value in USD for fiscal years 2013–2016.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t002

Pharmaceutical imports value according to therapeutic category- Anatomical Therapeutic Classification (ATC) level 2 for the year 2013–2016.

All pharmaceuticals imported under this period were classified up to level 2 of the ATC system of the WHO[13]. Table 3 displays the top 20 ATC categories of the imported pharmaceutical for the 2013–2016 fiscal years. Antibacterial for systemic use was the leading ATC category with highest cumulative value (24.3%) followed by analgesics (17.8%), antimalarials (13.17) among the top three.

thumbnail
Table 3. Top 20 pharmaceutical products according to ATC category (Private sector supply chain pipeline).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t003

Pharmaceutical imports value and market share according to country of origin

During the period from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years, the private suppliers imported pharmaceuticals from 74 countries worldwide. Table 4 shows the top 20 countries according to the declared FOB values in USD and cumulative market share of the total import value from 2013 to 2016. India, Egypt, Switzerland, USA and South Africa are ranked among the top 5 countries that had exported pharmaceutical with cumulative highest FOB values.

thumbnail
Table 4. Total pharmaceutical imports values and corresponding market share.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t004

Pharmaceutical frequency of imports according to the country of origin and sourced manufacturers

From 2013 to 2016 fiscal years, pharmaceuticals were imported from 74 various countries worldwide. Table 5 shows the top 20 countries according to the counts or frequency of importation from a particular country. India (9810 counts) was leading followed by Kenya (9629 counts), Switzerland (1033 counts), South Africa (838 counts) and Cyprus (778 counts) among the top 5 countries that have a high frequency of exportation into Tanzania mainland.

thumbnail
Table 5. Total pharmaceutical import frequency from 2013–2016.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t005

Table 6 displays the top 20 sourced manufacturers. Among the manufacturers that were sourced for importing pharmaceuticals, Cipla Limited (India) (11.17%) displayed the highest market share followed by Egyptian International Pharmaceutical Industries Company (10.77%), Astra lifecare (India) Private Limited (7.52%), Lincoln Pharmaceuticals Limited (India) (3.32%) and Hoe Pharmaceuticals SdnBhd (Malaysia) (2.24%) among the top 5 sourced Manufacturers.

Pharmaceutical imports value according to the dosage form

A total of 35 different dosage forms were imported into the country from 2013–2016 fiscal years. Fig 1 summarizes the top 20 dosage forms that were imported into the country for this period.

thumbnail
Fig 1. Pharmaceutical importations dosage-wise.

Tablets were among the most imported dosage form with highest cumulative market share value (57.5%), followed by capsules (7.92%), Cream (5.68%), syrup (4.45%), powder for injection (4.35%) and injections (3.51%).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.g001

Pharmaceuticals importers—List of key local representatives/ distributors

A total of 397 different company imported pharmaceutical in Tanzania mainland from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years. Fig 2 displays the top 20 local technical representatives (LTR) in Tanzania mainland. Phillips Pharmaceutical (T) Limited had enjoyed the greatest market share (16.2%) followed by Astra Pharma (T) Limited (12%) and Wide spectrum (T) Ltd (11.7%), JD Pharmacy (6.9%) and HEKO Pharmaceuticals (5.2%) among the top five importers.

thumbnail
Fig 2. Top 20 local representatives/ importers in Tanzania mainland.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.g002

Pharmaceuticals market trends

We analysed the cumulative market share for both brands (trade) name finished pharmaceutical formulations (BFPF) and generic finished pharmaceutical formulations (GFPF) that were imported into the country from 2013–2016 fiscal years. A total of 4286 BFPF and 928 GFPF were imported from different countries from 2013 to 2016 fiscal years. Table 7 and Table 8 display top 20 BFPF and GFPF respectively, with the highest import value in U.S dollars.

thumbnail
Table 7. Pharmaceutical import value for BFPF from 2013–2016.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t007

thumbnail
Table 8. Pharmaceutical import value for GFPF from 2013–2016.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.t008

The leading imported brands were Lumartem (Cipla-India) (10.58%), Epirax tablet (Eipico-Egypt)(10.50%) and Asmol (6.91) among the top three BFPF.The top 20 BFPF accounted for the total market share worth 386U.S million dollars of all imported pharmaceuticals for 2013-2016.The leading generic formulation among the top 20 GFPF with highest total import value is a fixed combination of Artemether and Lumefantrine (12.15%) followed by Paracetamol (10.7%), Chlordiazepoxide + Clidinium (10.5%) (a generic version of Epirax in Table 7), Ketoconazole (4.51%) and Albendazole (3.56%) among the top 5 imported GFPF. The top 20 GFPF accounted for cumulative market share worth 515U.S million dollars of all imported pharmaceuticals for 2013–2016 (Vs 740 U.S million dollars of total cumulative pharmaceutical import value). 65% off all top 20 BFPF were manufactured in India.

Pharmaceuticals imports forecast

We employed exponential smoothing[14], for forecasting pharmaceutical importation in the private sector supply chain. To remove the effect of inflation (deflation), the real pharmaceutical import figures were calculated by removing the pharmaceutical annual average consumer price index (CPI)[15]. The nominal pharmaceutical import forecast was then generated by returning the CPI numbers to real pharmaceutical import figures. Fig 3 displays the forecasted import value for the fiscal years ending 2021 for the private sector supply chain pipeline in Tanzania mainland.

thumbnail
Fig 3. Pharmaceutical import forecast up to the year -2021(in Million USD).

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0220701.g003

During the 2013–2014 fiscal years, pharmaceutical imports in Tanzania mainland reached 216 U.S million dollars. We forecast for the nominal pharmaceuticals imports to reach a total value of 704 U.S million dollars for all pharmaceutical import from private sector suppliers for the 2018–2019 fiscal year. By 2020–2021 fiscal years, it is projected that the pharmaceutical imports in the private sector supply chain will reach a value of 906 U.S million dollars. One of the limitations on these forecasted values is, for example, when the market drivers (e.g. improved local production capacity) change unexpectedly the projected values might be less accurate.

Discussion

Among TFDA’s registered products that were cumulatively imported into Tanzania mainland for the period between 2013–2016 fiscal years, human medicinal products constitute a significant sizable market (740 U.S million dollars) compared with other TFDA registered products that were imported into the country. Veterinary pharmaceutical recorded the second largest value (65 U.S million dollars). The raw material for pharmaceutical manufacturing recorded a significantly lower value (19,350 U.S dollars). The value for importation has increased from 216 U.S million dollars in 2013 to 294 U.S million dollars in 2016 (Table 2), indicating approximately 17% annual growth rate of the total value of pharmaceuticals imports.

Based on level 2 of the ATC system, antibacterial for systemic use emerged as the leading ATC in terms of value of the total pharmaceutical imports (worth 180U.S million dollars) followed by analgesics (worth 132 U.S million dollars), antimalarials (worth 97 U.S million dollars) antimycotics for dermatological use (42 U.S million dollars) and Cough and cold preparations (30 U.S million dollars). Among the top 20 ATC categories, there is almost an equal distribution for both communicable and non-communicable diseases (9 ATCs falling under communicable versus 11 for non-communicable diseases- Table 3). There could be several factors that can be ascribed to this observation. It might be either an indication of an alarming rate for increasing burden of non-communicable disease in the country or there have been improved diagnostic techniques, changing prescription habits or improved pharmaceuticals supply chain in private sector pipeline.

Calcium channel blockers and drug used in diabetics ranked 9th and 10th respectively. Antibacterials and antimalarials are highly consumed in Tanzania because of a high number of infective diseases especially respiratory diseases and malaria [16,17]. From pharmaceutical markets perspectives, antibacterial were leading in the market, plain amoxicillin holds 1.9% market share. Amoxicillin in fixed combination with other antibacterials displayed 1.7% market share. Amongst antimalarials, Artemether in fixed combination with Lumefantrine holds 12.15% market share (Table 8).

The observed high values of imported calcium channel blockers and drug used in diabetics are associated with an alarming rate of heart-related diseases and diabetes as a result of sedentary lifestyles especially in urban and major cities in sub-Sahara countries[1820]. This data is consistent with a published study which showed that obesity is on the rise in African countries including Tanzania, it was revealed that from the year 1992 to 2005 the prevalence of overweight/obesity increased by nearly 35.5% and the prevalence of obesity was as high as 32% in urban Tanzania, compared with 12% in rural Tanzania[21].

Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of various non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. The number of diabetes patients in Tanzania is forecast to increase to 3.8million by 2035 from 1.7million in 2014[22]. From pharmaceutical markets perspectives, this represents a growing market for drugs used in diabetics, currently, among drugs used in diabetes, plain metformin is leading with 1.39% market share (Table 8)).

Analgesics were the second ATC with the highest market share in the country (Table 3). There are two possible reasons, firstly is due to their affordable pricing they easily associable for self-medication, secondly, they have well-developed distribution networks through pharmacies, ADDO, traditional drug shops (popularly known as ‘dukala dawabaridi’) and in supermarkets and local shops. Although this represents a good opportunity for pharmaceutical markets in the country, from a public health perspective this translates into a major risk for kidney diseases. Long term consumption of analgesics especially for self-medication, is a major risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD)[2224]. A study published in the year 2014 showed that Tanzania is at a higher risk for explosive growth in the burden of CKD[25].

Antimycotics for both dermatological and systemic use also represent a significant proportion in pharmaceutical markets in the country with 5.72% and 2.08% market share respectively (Table 3). The increased use of antimycotics infections has been linked to increasing use of the broad-spectrum antibiotics, anticancer therapy and increase in prevalence of immunocompromised infections such as acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)[26,27]. In 2016, it was estimated that 1.3 million peoples were living with HIV with HIV prevalence of 4.7% in the country[28]. The fact that systemic fungal infection remains one of the major opportunistic infection for people living with HIV, the market segment for antimycotics is expected to grow significantly.

Cough and cold preparations represent another ATC category with a significant contribution to the pharmaceutical markets in the country. The growing trend for this segment could be due to well-developed distribution networks similar to that of analgesics. In addition, the fact that lower respiratory infections were ranked as the second leading cause of all dearth in the country[17], we expect the pharmaceutical market for this segment to grow steadily. Among the drugs for the respiratory system; salbutamol was the leading molecule Asmol, Table 7 and Diphenhydramine in Table 8

The antimalaria drug Artemether and Lumefantrine (ALu) in fixed-dose combination has become the leading in both BFPF (Lumartem, Table 7) and GFPF. The impetus for massive importation of ALu could be driven by the fact that in the current malaria treatment guidelines, ALu is the first line drug of choice for management of uncomplicated malaria[29], secondly, the support from Global Fund for subsidised ALu in both private and government facilities throughout the country[3032] and/or mushrooming of private drug shops that have contributed to increased consumption of certain essential medicines in the country including antimalarials [3336]. The subsidised ALu has made a substantial shift in malarial management from the time-tested old molecules (e.g. quinine and its derivative products). The current policy requires combination therapy for management of malaria; all other single molecules (e.g. Chloroquine, Amodiaquine e.tc) have been phased out. Only parenteral quinine has been reserved for the treatment of severe malaria[29].

Among the antidiarrhea drugs; while all the market segments were still growing, metronidazole market grew significantly whereas the fixed combination products like Norfloxacin and Tinidazole declined significantly in the year 2013–2016 (did not appear either in Table 7 or Table 8).

Generally, when we compare the trend among prescription-only medicines and over the counter medicine (OTC) for the top 20 GFPF and BFPF, the prescription-only medicine displayed high import values in both categories. For the BFPF there were no OTC among the first top 10, only four OTCs appeared on the 12th(Benylin),14th(Benylin 4 Flu) 19th(Meftal) and 20th(Womiban). For the GFPF category, prescription-only medicines display high prevalence than the OTC with only six OTCs appearing on 2nd (Paracetamol) 5th (Albendazole), 7th (Diphenhydramine) and 10th (Meloxicam) among the first top 10. Therefore, the OTCs display high prevalence in GFPF over the BFPF. (Table 7 and Table 8)

Currently, there is no law or regulations that govern neither procurement nor the pricing of pharmaceutical in the private sector. The procurement act only governs government procurements. Secondly, although the standard treatment guidelines are in place, they are not enforced in the private sector. It’s not an uncommon in Tanzania to find that most people practising self-medication using prescription-only medicines[37]. This might have an influence on the observed pattern of private sector imports.

As it has continued to maintain a pre-eminent role as the pharmacy of the developing world[38], India ranked as the first country for exporting highest value of pharmaceutical into the country. It enjoyed a 54% total market share of total imports from 2013–2016, followed by Egypt (11.7%), Switzerland and the USA hold 4.1% of market share (Table 4). The top 20 countries hold 97.8% market share, while the rest 54 countries contributed to a 2.2% share of total import values from 2013–2016 fiscal years. On the other hand, in terms of frequency (‘counts’) of importation, India has emerged as the leading country, followed by Kenya and Switzerland as the second and third respectively (Table 5). Egypt was ranked the 2nd in table 4 but it appears to decline in Table 5 in which it was ranked the 9th, this depicts that there was a relatively low frequency of importing relatively high value (in USD) of pharmaceuticals from Egypt. USA, Malaysia and Bangladesh displayed a similar trend. Kenya (which was ranked the 12th in (Table 4) was ranked the 2nd (Table 5). In this case, data shows that pharmaceuticals that were imported from Kenya worth low total value in U.S dollars. This further suggests that pharmaceuticals were frequently imported from Kenya than from other countriesprobably due to the given geographic proximity. UAE and Uganda displayed a semblable trend.

Among the top 20 importers, Phillips Pharmaceuticals (T) LTD displayed the highest market share, followed by Astra Pharma(T) LTD and Wide Spectrum. The majority of imports were supplied (sourced) from Cipla Limited, Egyptian International Pharma, Unichem Laboratories Limited and Johnson & Johnson (PTY) Limited (Table 6). All key distributors (importers) are based, and operate their business in Dar es Salaam, the economic centre and the largest city in Tanzania. Owing to the obvious advantages of tablets over other dosage forms[39], tablets constituted higher percentage of total import value. Capsules emerged as the second dosage form with high import value followed by creams, syrup, solutions and powder for injections. The inference from this data could be an eye opener to the would-be investors in pharmaceutical plants to invest/concentrate more in manufacturing these dosage forms. Furthermore, due to the fact that tablets and capsules are relatively cheaper in production and easily adaptable to GMP, local manufacturers should explore the economies of scale and increase the capacity to accommodate for the high demand of these dosage forms in the country.

Generally, in Tanzania pharmaceutical markets, generic imported pharmaceuticals have higher market share than branded imported pharmaceuticals, this is evident when we compare the contribution of top 20 categories in (Table 7) and (Table 8) against total pharmaceutical import values. The inference from this data is clear; GFPF predominate Tanzania’s pharmaceutical market as a result of low purchasing power by patients and/or lack of good marketing strategies (poor promotion) for branded BFPF manufactured by MNCs.

Recently, there has been a significant increase in budgetary funding for the government health care delivery[40,41]; this implies that the government might increase its share of pharmaceutical imports over the private sector, which might slightly lower demand in private sector due to improved accessibility and availability of pharmaceuticals in Government facilities. Therefore, our forecasted value for the private sector supply chain pipeline could be slightly lower than projected value, but the total actual national demand will not be affected, and in fact, the total combined value for pharmaceutical imports (i.e. from the private sector and government supply) will keep on increasing.

Conclusion

Our result shows that the vast majority of pharmaceutical imports in the private sector supply chain are dominated by imports from India. India is competing with other countries such as Egypt, Switzerland, USA and South Africa among the top importing countries. There was almost an equal distribution of pharmaceutical for both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Data presented shows a growing trend for the market segment for medicines required for the management of non-communicable diseases.

Generally, the private sector pharmaceutical market is keeping on rising at a rapid pace. By the year 2021, the growth is forecasted to increase by 28% compared to the current market value. The growth could encompass more generic pharmaceuticals than branded pharmaceuticals; this is suggestive of the relatively high price of branded pharmaceuticals compared to generics. The projected growth rate could be good news for foreign pharmaceutical companies seeking new sources of growth in international pharmaceutical trading. It is also good news to the poor patients if availability of drugs previously unavailable in the country is significantly increased.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Tanzania Food and Drug Authority for providing access to the raw data on human medicinal products imported into Tanzania mainland.

References

  1. 1. MoHSW. The National Medicine Policy (NMP). Dar es salaam, United Republic of Tanzania; 2006.
  2. 2. EAC. The 2nd East Africa Community(EAC) Regional Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan of Action (RPMPOA): 2017–2027. 2014.
  3. 3. UNDP. How Local Production of Pharmaceuticals Can be Promoted in Africa: The Case of the United Republic of Tanzania. UNDP 2016. 2016;
  4. 4. Business Monitor International Ltd. Tanzania Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Report. Vol. Q3, BMI Research. 2016.
  5. 5. TFDA. Interview with TFDA Drug Inspection Manager and Senior GMPofficer. Dar es salaam; 2017.
  6. 6. Tibandebage P, Wangwe S, Mackintosh M, Mujinja PGM. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Decline in Tanzania: How Possible Is a Turnaround to Growth? In: Mackintosh M, Banda G, Tibandebage P, Wamae W, editors. Making Medicines in Africa. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK; 2016. p. 45–64.
  7. 7. Karen Losse, Eva Schneider CS. The Viability of Local Pharmaceutical Production in Tanzania [Internet]. Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH. Eschborn; 2007. Available from: https://www.unido.org/fileadmin/user_media/Services/PSD/BEP/Tanzania.pdf
  8. 8. BOT. Indicative Foreign Exchange Market Rates [Internet]. www.bot.go.tz. 2018 [cited 2018 Apr 11]. Available from: https://www.bot.go.tz/FinancialMarkets/ExchangeRates/ShowExchangeRates.asp
  9. 9. Mziray S, Mwamwitwa K, Kisoma S, Augustine S, Fimbo A, Hipolite D, et al. Post Marketing Surveillance of Anti-malarial Medicines in Tanzania. Pharm Regul Aff. 2017;6(1):1–5.
  10. 10. Ewen M, Kaplan W, Gedif T, Justin-Temu M, Vialle-Valentin C, Mirza Z, et al. Prices and availability of locally produced and imported medicines in Ethiopia and Tanzania. J Pharm Policy Pract [Internet]. 2017;10(1):1–9. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40545-016-0095-1
  11. 11. Mhamba RM, Mbirigenda S. The pharmaceutical industry and access to essential medicines in Tanzania [Internet]. 2010 [cited 2019 Apr 19]. Available from: http://www.equinetafrica.org/sites/default/files/uploads/documents/DIS83TZN_medicines_mhamba.pdf
  12. 12. Wilson KR, Kohler JC, Ovtcharenko N. The make or buy debate: Considering the limitations of domestic production in Tanzania. Global Health [Internet]. 2012;8(1):1. Available from: ???
  13. 13. WHO. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification System with Defined Daily Doses (ATC/DDD) [Internet]. World Health Organization. 1990 [cited 2018 Mar 1]. Available from: http://www.who.int/classifications/atcddd/en/
  14. 14. Spyros G. Makridakis Steven C. Wheelwright RJH. Forecasting methods and applications. 3rd Editio. New York: John wiley & sons; 1998.
  15. 15. TNBS. Tanzania National Bureau of statistics [Internet]. 2019 [cited 2019 Jan 15]. Available from: https://www.nbs.go.tz/nbstz/index.php/english/consumer-price-index-cpi
  16. 16. CDC. Global Health—Tanzania [Internet]. U.S.Department of Health & Human Services. [cited 2018 Mar 9]. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/globalhealth/countries/tanzania/
  17. 17. WHO. United Republic of Tanzania:WHO statistical profie [Internet]. WHO and UN partner. 2015 [cited 2018 Mar 9]. Available from: http://www.who.int/gho/countries/tza.pdf?ua=1
  18. 18. World Health Organization. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010. World Health [Internet]. 2010;176. Available from: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2011/9789240686458_eng.pdf
  19. 19. Ogbera AO, Ekpebegh C. Diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: The past, present and future. World J Diabetes [Internet]. 2014 Dec 15;5(6):905–11. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4265879/ pmid:25512795
  20. 20. Kengne AP, Bentham J, Zhou B, Peer N, Matsha TE, Bixby H, et al. Trends in obesity and diabetes across Africa from 1980 to 2014: An analysis of pooled population-based studies. Int J Epidemiol. 2017;46(5):1421–32. pmid:28582528
  21. 21. Ziraba AK, Fotso JC, Ochako R. Overweight and obesity in urban Africa: A problem of the rich or the poor? BMC Public Health [Internet]. 2009 Dec;9(1):465. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-9-465
  22. 22. Guariguata L., Whiting D., Hambledton I., Beagley J., Limmemkamp U., Shaw J. Global Estimates of Diabetes Prevalence for 2013 and Projections for 2035. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2013;103(2):137–49. pmid:24630390
  23. 23. Nanra RS, Daniel V, Howard M. Analgesic nephropathy induced by common proprietary mixtures. Med J Aust. 1980 May;1(10):486–7. pmid:7412682
  24. 24. Stewart JH, Gallery ED. Analgesic abuse and kidney disease. Aust N Z J Med. 1976 Oct;6(5):498–508. pmid:1071883
  25. 25. Stanifer JW, Maro V, Egger J, Karia F, Thielman N, Turner EL, et al. The Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease in Northern Tanzania: A Population-Based Survey. PLoS One [Internet]. 2015;10(4):1–12. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124506
  26. 26. Mushi MF, Masewa B, Jande M, Mirambo MM, Mshana SE. Prevalence and factor associated with over-the-counter use of antifungal agents’, in Mwanza city, Tanzania. Tanzan J Health Res. 2017;19(1):1–8.
  27. 27. Mylonakis E, Marty F. Antifungal use in HIV infection. Expert Opin Pharmacother [Internet]. 2002;3(2):91–102. Available from: pmid:11829723
  28. 28. UNAIDS. HIV/AIDS in Tanzania [Internet]. 2016 [cited 2019 Feb 10]. Available from: http://aidsinfo.unaids.org/
  29. 29. WHO. National Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria [Internet]. Ministry of Health and Social Welfare-Tanzania. 2006 [cited 2019 Jan 3]. p. 105. Available from: http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/documents/s19271en/s19271en.pdf
  30. 30. Opiyo N, Yamey G GP. Subsidising artemisinin-based combination therapy in the private retail sector. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;(3).
  31. 31. Simba D, Kakoko D. Access to subsidized artemether-lumefantrine from the private sector among febrile children in rural setting in Kilosa, Tanzania. Tanzan J Health Res. 2012;14(2):89–95. pmid:26591729
  32. 32. Samarasekera U. Drug subsidy could help Tanzania tackle malaria. Lancet. 2008;371(9622):1403–6. pmid:18446925
  33. 33. Kaale E, Manyanga V, Chambuso M, Liana J, Rutta E, Embrey M, et al. The quality of selected essential medicines sold in accredited drug dispensing outlets and pharmacies in Tanzania. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):1–9.
  34. 34. Embrey M, Vialle-Valentin C, Dillip A, Kihiyo B, Mbwasi R, Semali IA, et al. Understanding the role of accredited drug dispensing outlets in Tanzania’s health system. PLoS One. 2016;11(11):1–16.
  35. 35. Sabot OJ, Mwita A, Cohen JM, Ipuge Y, Gordon M, Bishop D, et al. Piloting the global subsidy: The impact of subsidized artemisinin-based combination therapies distributed through private drug shops in rural Tanzania. PLoS One. 2009;4(9).
  36. 36. Alba S, Hetzel MW, Goodman C, Dillip A, Liana J, Mshinda H, et al. Improvements in access to malaria treatment in Tanzania after switch to artemisinin combination therapy and the introduction of accredited drug dispensing outlets—A provider perspective. Malar J. 2010;9(1):1–15.
  37. 37. G A Kagashe LF. Dispensing of drugs with and without a prescription from private pharmacies in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Med J. 2004;19(1).
  38. 38. Rehman HA-U. The pharmacy of the developing world: India, patent law and access to essential medicines. Australia National University- College of Law; 2011.
  39. 39. Ozioko Calistus. Solid Dosage Forms: Tablets [Internet]. Pharmapproach.com. 2017 [cited 2018 Mar 10]. Available from: https://www.pharmapproach.com/solid-dosage-forms-tablets/
  40. 40. Lee B, Tarimo K. Analysis of the Government of Tanzania’s Budget Allocation to the Health Sector for Fiscal Year 2017/18 [Internet]. http://www.healthpolicyplus.com/pubs.cfm?get=7144. 2018 [cited 2018 Mar 13]. Available from: http://www.healthpolicyplus.com/ns/pubs/7183-7323_TanzaniaBudgetAllocationHealthSectorBrief.pdf
  41. 41. Sikika. Health Sector Budget Analysis: For fiscal year 2017/2018 [Internet]. Sikika. Dar es salaam, United Republic of Tanzania; 2018 [cited 2018 Mar 13]. Available from: http://sikika.or.tz/images/content/mp3/Health-Sector-Budget-Analysis-For-fiscal-year-2017_2018.pdf