HEALTH SYSTEM THINKING
MEDICINE MANGEMENT
MEDICINE MANGEMENT
Government of Tanzania launch of the revised Standard Treatment Guidelines (STG) and the National Essential Medicines List for Tanzania Mainland (NEMLIT)
On 25 June 2021, Honourable Dr. Dorothy Gwajima Minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children launched the Sixth Edition (2021) of Standard Treatment Guidelines and the National Essential Medicines List for Tanzania Mainland.
Revision of the guidelines involved several steps including a systematic review of scientific evidence for inclusion or removal of medicines from the last edition, with inputs submitted by stakeholders from all levels of health care. Inputs were also gathered from scientific and professional boards, regulatory authorities, National Health Insurance (NHIF) and National Medicine Stores Department (MSD).
SwissTPH/HPSS collaborated with MoHCDGEC in a survey for the collection of recommendations for the review of STG/NEMLIT in 26 health facilities of six regions (Dodoma, Singida, Manyara, Morogoro, Pwani and Dar es Salaam). HPSS project also financially and technically supported a series of work sessions for the development of the guidelines.
The 6th edition of the STG/NEDLIT addresses challenges and gaps in the provision of health care services to keep pace with technological and medical advancement. The new edition includes various significant improvements:
-
Addition of 101 new medicines based on scientific evidence and clinical needs.
-
Adoption of the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of antibiotics into Access, Watch, Reserve (AWaRe) groups, aiming to improve use of antimicrobial agents and minimize the burden of antimicrobial resistance.
-
Guidance for the management of COVID-19
-
A new chapter for the management of patients with emergency conditions for initial resuscitation and stabilization.
-
New availability of medicines for non-communicable diseases in primary health care facilities
-
A new section on notifiable diseases.
In her launching remarks, Dr Dorothy Gwajima appreciated the technical and financial contribution of Swiss TPH/HPSS Project in the revision of the STG/NEMLIT and directed the National Chief Pharmacist to work with the project and other partners to develop a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework to monitor adherence of the STG/NEMLIT.