The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat is on track to implement the SADC Pooled Procurement Services (SPPS) through group contracting model framework for medicines and medical supplies. The two-day meeting was held in Dar es Salaam, United Republic of Tanzania (URT), from 30-31 March 2026 to harmonise the two (2) systems, SADC Medicines Database (SMD) and eSPPS and prepare for full operationalisation. The United Republic of Tanzania which was designated as the host country of the SPPS in November 2017, continues to play a central role in supporting the operationalisation of the regional initiative.
The SPPS is expected to reduce the cost of medicines by up to 40 percent, as it allows Member States to share pricing and supplier information to leverage their collective bargaining power and negotiate together for high-quality medicines to improve availability of essential medicines and strengthen security of supply.
SADC Medicines Database was developed in 2014 and has undergone several updates, the most recent one being carried out now with technical and financial assistance from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). A key component of this work involves upgrading the SADC Medicines Database (SMD), to improve usability and facilitate integration across Member States’ systems. The SMD serves as a regional repository of medicine prices, suppliers and related procurement information, thereby supporting evidence-based decision-making. Subsequently, the electronic SPPS (eSPPS) was developed by Medical Stores Department (MSD) of the United Republic of Tanzania in 2018 to further modernise and streamline the pooled procurement process.
Following the commencement of the SMD upgrade in September 2025, eight Member States, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe have completed in-country assessments and training to prepare for the operationalisation of the SPPS group contracting.
Mr. Mavere Tukai, Director General of Medical Stores Department of the United Republic of Tanzania, highlighted the importance of the SPPS in addressing shortages of essential medicines and improving access to hard-to-find medical supplies. He noted Tanzania’s strong support for the initiative, pointing to the country’s achievements in digital technology, e-government services, mobile financial systems and infrastructure development that will help make the system work effectively.
“Mr. Tukai expressed gratitude to SADC Member States for the trust placed in the United Republic of Tanzania to host the SPPS initiative and called for the accelerated development of policies, regulations and procurement rules to ensure the system becomes fully operational. He also highlighted the technical progress achieved on the eSPPS following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in November 2018 between the SADC Secretariat and the Medical Stores Department (MSD) on behalf of the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania. Key accomplishments of the SPPS include the establishment of governance structures, preparation of user manuals and standard operating procedures, mapping of business processes, development of regulatory documents, design of transaction systems and workflows, definition of procurement cycles, and entry of data from Member States. Mr. Tukai encouraged all Member States to continue sharing their vital data to prepare the system for utilisation.
Dr. Lamboly Kumboneki, Senior Programme Officer for HIV/AIDS at the SADC Secretariat, expressed gratitude to SADC Member States for their support of the pooled procurement initiative. He acknowledged the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania for hosting the meeting and providing technical expertise to strengthen the system, noting that the SPPS is expected to be fully operational by the last quarter of 2026.
Dr. Kumboneki further highlighted the importance of addressing existing gaps, bottlenecks and challenges in the SMD systems to ensure its smooth and effective implementation. He called on close collaboration in finalising policies, regulatory frameworks, procurement procedures and data management processes, stressing that overcoming these obstacles is critical to enabling a fully integrated, efficient and transparent regional procurement platform that delivers timely access to essential medicines across the SADC region.
During the meeting, participants discussed the systems' capabilities, data structures, ways to exchange information between systems, integration plan and recommendations.
Once fully operational, the SPPS is expected to make it easier for Member States to coordinate procurement, share information, make informed purchasing decisions and access medicines that are rare or critical. The pooled procurement addresses issues relating to trade (customs procedures and tariffs, for example), legislation, procurement, financing and investments to facilitate the movement of essential medicines and health commodities across the region.
The two-day meeting brought together staff from the SADC Secretariat, consultants and officials from the United Republic of Tanzania to align and harmonise the eSPPS and SMD systems. This collaboration aimed to enhance transparency, improve operational efficiency and strengthen access to essential medicines across the region. Training, assessments and sensitisation activities for other Member States on the SPPS are ongoing as part of the broader implementation process.
This initiative marks an important step in building a stronger and more efficient regional health system, ensuring that all SADC Member States can access essential medicines and health supplies when they are needed most.
