Info flows streamlined in MSD service delivery
Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TCCL) acting director general Peter Ngota (right) hands over a project certificate to Medical Stores Department (MSD) acting director general Cosmas Mwaifwani in Dar es Salaam yesterday. This was shortly after MSD was connected to the national optic fibre backbone. PHOTO | EMMANUEL HERMAN
What you need to know:
The central medical stores system has already rolled out an efficient communication system which allows quick access to its resources, thanks to the national optic fibre backbone
Dar es Salaam. Health centres countrywide can access vital information on human medicines from the Medical Stores Department (MSD) within 12 hours after the installation of the national fibre optic network in eight zones and two sales centres.
Speaking at the launch of the MSD optic fibre network yesterday, the departments’ acting director general Cosmas Mwaifwani said the 5,500 health centres, Muhimbili National Hospital, referral hospitals, regional and district hospitals were set to render higher level of service delivery after being connected to the National ICT Broadband Backbone (NICTBB).
“Our eight zonal offices and two sales centres in the country are set to offer more efficient services for distribution of medicines in all public and private hospitals and health centres throughout the country after being connected to the national ICT broadband backbone,” said Mr Mwaifwani.
According to him, any MSD customer can press order and get response within 12 hours now, contrary to the old system of communication which was less efficient because it heavily depended on copper wires of the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL).
The project, which started in 2011, was completed recently, according to him.
The acting TTCL director general, Mr Peter Ngota, said the project was set to improve communication between MSD and its customers.
“This project has enabled 12 branches of MSD to get connected with enterprise service solutions for enhanced efficiency in offering services,” said Mr Ngota.
He further said the MSD also had an opportunity to access other ICT services from the TTCL-like video-conferencing, Wi-Fi and ICT leasing services.
According to him, already the TTCL, through the NICTBB, has connected all the institutions under the health sector apart from the MSD and other vital public institutions to connect themselves within and outside the countries. They include Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and Kenya.
