Tanzania, April 7 -- Dar es Salaam. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) is finalising a regional pooled procurement system aimed at tackling chronic shortages of essential medicines and medical supplies.

The SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) is expected to be fully operational in the fourth quarter of 2026, marking a major shift in how member states access life-saving health commodities.

Following a two-day technical meeting in Dar es Salaam last month, officials confirmed that the region will adopt a group contracting model, enabling member states to negotiate lower prices through collective bargaining and secure more reliable supply chains.

"The SPPS is projected to reduce the cost of essential medicines by up to ...