The Tanzanian government is seeking to reduce patient referrals to distant hospitals by expanding diagnostic, surgical, and maternity services at primary healthcare facilities, Deputy Minister for Health Dr Jafar Seif said during an inspection visit in the southern highlands on Wednesday.
Dr Seif, from the Prime Minister’s Office for Regional Administration and Local Government (TAMISEMI), visited Lupalilo Health Centre in Makete District, where six new healthcare buildings have been constructed for 580.2 million shillings.
The facility, which has been upgraded from a village dispensary to a fully-fledged health centre, is expected to significantly reduce the number of patients referred to higher-level hospitals.
Addressing local residents on January 8, 2026, Dr Seif said the government’s strategy is to strengthen primary healthcare services, particularly in rural and remote areas, to ensure equitable access to quality care.
“Our objective is to minimise unnecessary referrals by ensuring essential services are available closer to where people live, especially in rural communities,” he said.
The six completed buildings include an outpatient department (OPD), maternity unit, laboratory, operating theatre, laundry facility, and medical waste incinerator.
The health centre is currently receiving medical equipment and supplies worth 300 million shillings from the Medical Stores Department (MSD).
According to Odetha Mutyaba, Medical Officer in Charge of Lupalilo Health Centre, the expanded facilities have already improved service delivery.
Annual patient numbers increased from 541 to 1,903 in 2025, while monthly revenue rose from 150,000 shillings to 500,000 shillings, reflecting higher service utilisation.
Health officials say the upgrade will help decongest referral hospitals and improve health outcomes by providing timely care at the community level.
