The Government Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Grace Magembe, on January 22, 2026, held high-level discussions with the Resident Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tanzania, Dr. Alex Ntale Gasasira, focusing on strengthening health services across the country.
The talks centered on preparations for the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) plan, the development of the Sixth Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP VI), and agreement on the best approaches to improve service delivery to citizens.
During the meeting, Dr. Magembe also received a briefing from WHO Africa regional experts, presented by Josephine Henshaw, on the assessment of the National Laboratory’s capacity in testing for outbreak-prone diseases.
The report highlighted the laboratory’s strong capabilities, meeting standards for expanding the number and types of infectious disease tests that can be conducted locally, reducing the need to send samples abroad.
The National Laboratory achieved national accreditation in May 2025 from the Southern African Development Community Accreditation Service (SADCAS) in Botswana, validating its high-quality testing standards.
These discussions reflect Tanzania’s continued efforts to strengthen its health system, enhance local diagnostic capacity, and ensure citizens have access to reliable and timely medical services.