AS President Samia Suluhu Hassan marks four years in office, Tanzania’s healthcare sector has witnessed significant transformation, driven by substantial investments and the government’s steadfast commitment to improving medical services across the country.
Throughout this period, the nation’s healthcare sector has made remarkable strides, with a focus on ensuring that essential healthcare services—including routine, specialised and super-specialised care—are not only available but also accessible to communities throughout Tanzania.
The government has introduced new healthcare services, including reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, aimed at reducing costs incurred by citizens seeking such services abroad.
Additionally, a new weight-loss procedure, the intragastric balloon placement, has been introduced, with several patients already undergoing the procedure.
To achieve these objectives, the government has made significant investments in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, supplies and the training of healthcare personnel, positioning Tanzania as a growing hub for medical tourism.
Minister for Health, Ms Jenista Mhagama, remarked that under President Samia’s leadership, Tanzania has made notable progress in strengthening its healthcare system, expanding access to quality medical services and implementing innovative solutions to address critical health challenges.
She noted that increased investment in healthcare infrastructure has raised the number of health facilities from 8,458 in 2020 to 9,826 in 2024.
The number of hospitals with emergency medicine departments has surged from seven in 2020 to 113 in 2024, while the availability of Comprehensive Maternal and Neonatal Care (CEMONC) facilities has increased from 340 to 523.
Furthermore, the availability of essential health commodities has risen from 73 per cent in 2020 to 86 per cent in 2024.
In addition to these improvements, diagnostic services have been significantly enhanced, with the installation of nine MRI machines, 33 CT scanners, 481 digital X-ray machines and 625 ultrasound machines over the past four years.
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A pivotal moment in Tanzania’s health sector came when the National Assembly unanimously approved the Universal Health Insurance Bill, which aims to ensure widespread access to healthcare services through a comprehensive health insurance system.
Signed into law by President Samia on 5th December 2023, the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme began its initial operations in August 2023.
It is expected that, within the first year, the scheme will cover 15 million people, or 25 per cent of the population.
A new membership registration system, claims processing system, and three new health insurance packages have also been launched.
The UHI initiative seeks to provide access to essential healthcare for all citizens, regardless of their socioeconomic status, while reducing the financial burden on families and strengthening the country’s healthcare system—critical steps toward sustainable development and well-being.
Chief Government Spokesperson and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Arts, Culture and Sports, Mr Gerson Msigwa, noted that under President Samia’s leadership, the government has constructed 129 new hospitals in every district council nationwide, with citizens across many areas expressing their gratitude for the substantial reforms in healthcare services.
The government has also renovated around 367 health centres and completed the construction of 980 dispensaries that had stalled.
Additionally, significant investments have been made in modern medical equipment and supplies, with 1.298tri/- allocated for the purchase of X-ray machines, ultrasound machines, CT scanners and other essential medical equipment.
The budget for medicines has been increased to 239bn/-, focusing specifically on medicines, as opposed to previous combined budgets for medicines and other medical supplies. With a new budget for medical supplies reaching 181 billion shillings, the overall investment in the health sector has grown substantially.
In the last four years, 677 dispensaries, 425 health centres and 100 hospitals have been supplied with medical equipment, including medical oxygen gas and ambulances. Mr Msigwa highlighted that emergency medical services have also been strengthened, with 86 Emergency Medical Department (EMD) facilities and 30 Intensive Care Units (ICUs) built, complete with the necessary medical equipment.
Additionally, 21 oxygen generation plants have been installed in hospitals, increasing the total number to 129. “We faced a significant challenge during the Covid-19 pandemic, as the demand for oxygen was high, and its availability was costly,” said Mr Msigwa. “Now, we have begun installing oxygen plants in our hospitals, and over the past four years, 21 plants have been installed.”
Over this period, the government has also purchased 382 ambulances, 210 vehicles for coordination and 540 motorcycles for outreach services, ensuring better access to emergency services in district hospitals.
Tanzania now offers a wide range of services that were previously only available abroad, including kidney transplants, cochlear implants, bone marrow transplants, and interventional radiology procedures at Muhimbili National Hospital.
The country has also made significant investments in cardiovascular care, with advanced equipment at the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI) enabling the facility to handle complex cases that were previously referred overseas.
In the past four years, the JKCI has performed closed heart surgery on 1,190 patients and open-heart surgery on 345.
The institute now serves patients from all regions of Mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar, as well as neighbouring countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Comoros, Uganda, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda and Burundi.
The government has also invested heavily in the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The institute now has several machines providing chemotherapy and modern equipment has enabled the institute to treat up to 300 patients daily. Medicines for the most common types of cancer are now fully available.
At the Muhimbili Orthopaedic Institute (MOI), modern machinery has allowed the performance of complex procedures such as spine and brain surgeries.
Efforts to strengthen medical tourism have been ongoing, with the government’s initiatives to enhance specialised and super-specialised services in the country to attract international patients.
To address the shortage of specialist doctors and nurses in regional referral hospitals, the government introduced the Samia Suluhu Super Specialist programme, offering scholarships to 601 healthcare professionals for specialist training in 2023/2024.
To improve access to specialised and super-specialised services, the Ministry continues to implement the Dr Samia Specialised Outreach Programme, bringing these services closer to communities at the regional and municipal levels.
The programme aims to make healthcare more accessible, reduce the cost of specialised treatments and improve the capacity of medical experts to continue providing high-quality care.
In summary, Tanzania’s healthcare sector has made tremendous progress over the past four years, reflecting the government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare access, improving medical services and promoting the country as a key destination for medical tourism.
