Health in Tanzania

The Ministry of Health sets national policy, standards and programmes on Tanzania Mainland. Local government authorities, regional and district medical offices and council health teams manage much of the service delivery and facility oversight. Zanzibar has its own Ministry of Health, district health management teams and service pathways, so Mainland facility data, referral names and financing rules do not automatically apply there. On Tanzania Mainland, the usual pathway runs from a dispensary, locally called a zahanati, to a health centre, district hospital or hospital at district level, regional referral hospital, zonal referral hospital and then national or specialised services. A dispensary generally provides primary treatment, prevention and basic services. Higher levels handle more complex tests, treatment, admissions and specialist referrals. Private providers and faith-based organisations operate alongside public facilities, but opening hours, available services, referral requirements, laboratory capacity and medicine stocks vary by facility. The Mainland Health Facility Registry is the official facility list and can be searched by region, council, facility type, ownership and service. Its 2026 snapshot records 14,307 operating facilities, including 8,981 dispensaries, 1,433 health centres, 183 district hospitals, 192 hospitals at district level, 28 regional referral hospitals, 5 zonal referral hospitals, 1 national hospital and 1,919 laboratories. The registry covers Tanzania Mainland and should not be treated as a complete directory for Zanzibar, where facility and service information follows separate channels. Preventive care includes routine immunisation, antenatal and postnatal care, family planning, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, HIV and sexually transmitted infection testing, tuberculosis screening and treatment, malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment, blood-pressure and diabetes screening, nutrition, oral health, mental-health promotion and community outreach. Community health workers can support prevention and referral, but the services available through them depend on the local programme and area. During a normal visit, the facility registers the client, performs triage and clinical assessment, orders tests when needed, provides treatment or medicines and refers or admits the client if the facility cannot safely manage the condition. Standard Treatment Guidelines and essential-medicine systems guide care. In a 2024 Mainland assessment, average availability of 290 priority commodities was 85%; the reported averages were 76% at dispensaries, 73% at health centres, 79% at district hospitals and 97% at regional referral, national, specialised and zonal facilities. These figures are averages, not a guarantee that a particular medicine will be available at a particular facility. Medicines and tests should be obtained through licensed facilities, pharmacies, laboratories or Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets. The Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority regulates medicines and medical devices, while the Pharmacy Council and local authorities also have supervisory roles. Unlicensed drug shops and irregular medicine sales create risks involving incorrect treatment, counterfeit or poor-quality products and lack of referral. A person with an acute or life-threatening condition should go directly to an Emergency Medical Department or the nearest hospital. The m-MAMA emergency and ambulance service can be reached on the toll-free number 115; 112 connects to the police, and 199 provides health information and emergency support. Maternal emergencies should not wait for the routine referral pathway, and m-MAMA can be especially relevant where transport to skilled maternity or newborn care is difficult. After treatment or discharge, follow the facility's instructions on medicines, warning signs, return visits and referrals. Chronic conditions, HIV, tuberculosis, mental-health needs and non-communicable diseases often require continuing visits, while rehabilitation or specialist services may require referral back to a lower-level facility. Tanzania has no confirmed single nationwide maximum waiting-time or appointment-time standard; timing depends on the facility, condition, specialist capacity and any applicable coverage arrangement. Mental-health care is governed on Tanzania Mainland by the Mental Health Act, Cap. 98 R.E. 2023. Services include mental-health units and specialist facilities such as Mirembe Mental Hospital. The law provides rules for voluntary and involuntary admission, Patient Welfare Boards and complaint or representation safeguards, but access remains uneven between areas. The Mainland Universal Health Insurance Act No. 13 of 2023 and its 2024 regulations apply to Tanzania Mainland, while Zanzibar uses the Zanzibar Health Services Fund. Mainland implementation is being introduced over time, and an indigent-household programme began on 26 January 2026. National Health Insurance Fund access depends on eligibility, an accredited provider and the applicable benefit package; current individual packages include a 30-day waiting period. Coverage, referral rules and medicine benefits should be confirmed before treatment because insurance does not automatically provide every service at every facility. Public and private charges are not uniform nationwide. The Ministry of Health directed standardised treatment charges in 2026, and government facilities grant exemptions for special or needy groups, but the exact fee, waiver, waiting time and referral timing remain facility- and service-dependent. A facility should display a Client Service Charter, also called Mkataba wa Huduma Bora kwa Mteja, explaining services, rights, duties, costs, professional credentials and complaint channels. Clients are entitled to information, respectful and timely care, confidentiality and a way to complain; they should provide truthful identity and medical information, cooperate with informed care, follow agreed treatment and return instructions, behave respectfully and comply with applicable payment or coverage rules. Traditional and alternative medicine is legally recognised on Tanzania Mainland when provided by practitioners registered with the Traditional and Alternative Health Practitioners Council. It is not a substitute for emergency treatment, diagnostic testing, referral or evidence-based treatment when those are needed. The Tanzania National Health Portal and national health information systems provide official data, while telemedicine is expanding but is not available uniformly across the country.