DODOMA, Oct. 21 -- THE government has directed the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) to intensify the crackdown on counterfeit and substandard medicines through expanded market surveillance, wider regulatory coverage and closer cooperation with law enforcement agencies to protect public health.

Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa issued the directives in Dodoma recently while inaugurating the Ministry of Health Advisory Board for TMDA, warning that fake and poor quality medicines pose a serious threat to public health and require firm regulatory action.

“Counterfeit and substandard medicines are a crime against innocent people,” he said.

He cited World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in eve...