Major leap in healthcare
DODOMA: THE country’s health sector has recorded tremendous achievements over the past four years of President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration including the strengthening of specialised medical services, that have attracted patients from outside the country.
Presenting the Ministry’s 1.6tri/- budget estimates for the 2025/26 financial year, the Minister for Health, Ms Jenista Mhagama, said that the substantial investments made by the government have significantly improved the delivery of health services, availability of medicines and medical equipment from 2021 to March of this year.
She said that during this period the number of health personnel increased with the employment of 48,633 professionals from various cadres, bringing the total number of health sector personnel to 177,711, including 8,146 staff hired on contract terms.
The government also strengthened the availability of specialised and super-specialised experts, with 2,779 receiving various in-service training.
“This has helped to increase the number of trained specialised and super-specialised experts from 768 to 1,420.,” she said Another achievement highlighted by the minister is the improvement and increased availability of essential health commodities.
The availability of 382 priority essential health commodities at healthcare facilities has improved from 58 per cent to 87 per cent, representing a 29 per cent increase. She said that during the period, maternal, newborn, and child health services have significantly improved.
The progress includes the completion of maternal health service buildings at the Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital costing 13.2bn/- and similar projects at regional referral hospitals in Sekou Toure (Mwanza), Geita, Simiyu, Mawenzi, Njombe, and Songwe, with a total investment of 71.1bn/- According to the minister, the number of health facilities capable of providing emergency cesarean section services has increased from 388 to 577.
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The number of specialised neonatal wards for low-birth-weight babies has risen from 80 to 362. In addition, the availability of essential reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health commodities has improved from 82.5 per cent to 88 per cent.
“The government’s investment in surgical infrastructure for expectant mothers, the introduction of the M-MAMA emergency referral system, strengthened accountability among healthcare providers, and the engagement of professional associations have all contributed to a significant reduction in maternal mortality from 556 to 104 deaths per 100,000 live births,” she said.
“These achievements have earned President Samia Suluhu Hassan international recognition,” she added.
Minister Mhagama further said that the implementation of the Community Health Workers’ Integrated Plan designed to enhance healthcare outreach at the household level has so far resulted in the selection of 12,832 community health workers.
She said out of them, 3,706 have completed training, while 4,309 are currently undergoing training across 45 health training institutions. The government’s goal is to train a total of 137,294 health workers by 2029. She also highlighted progress in health infrastructure development.
The number of health service delivery facilities has increased from 8,549 to 12,846, marking the addition of 4,297 new facilities.
New buildings have been constructed at the national hospital, zonal and regional referral hospitals, as well as in newly established hospitals, with a total investment of 1.03tri/-.
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Other achievements include the renovation of old buildings in 50 district council hospitals, completion of 980 dispensary buildings, construction of 390 health centres, installation of 21 medical oxygen generation plants for critically ill and emergency patients, and the construction of 270 staff houses for healthcare workers.
The minister also noted a substantial increase in the number of hospital beds across the country from 86,131 to 153,683.
The number of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds has grown from 258 to 1,362, significantly boosting the country’s capacity to manage critical care patients. Furthermore, the availability and quality of diagnostic services have been enhanced through the procurement and installation of diagnostic and treatment equipment worth 228.1bn/-.
“The increase in diagnostic equipment has helped reduce both domestic and international referrals, brought services closer to communities at lower costs and improved the accuracy and timeliness of medical treatment,” Ms Mhagama said.
