Dodoma. Parliament has unanimously approved the Ministry of Health’s Tzs1.8 trillion budget for the 2026/27 financial year, signalling Tanzania’s ambitious push to transform healthcare delivery through universal insurance coverage, expansion of specialised treatment facilities and investment in local pharmaceutical production.
The approval followed an extensive debate by lawmakers during the 13th Parliament’s Third Session in Dodoma, where MPs largely praised the Sixth Phase Government for directing more resources towards strengthening the country’s health system and reducing reliance on imported medicines.
The budget, tabled by Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa on May 11, allocates a significant share of funding to development projects, underscoring the government’s focus on long-term healthcare infrastructure and service improvement.
Speaking after Parliament endorsed the estimates on Tuesday, Mchengerwa said the government remained committed to positioning Tanzania as a leading healthcare and medical tourism destination in East Africa.
He credited President Samia Suluhu Hassan for prioritising reforms aimed at improving access to quality healthcare services for Tanzanians.
“I would like to thank President Samia Suluhu Hassan for her commitment to ensuring Tanzania becomes a model country in the provision of quality healthcare services,” the minister told Parliament.
He added that recommendations raised by MPs during the debate would be incorporated into the implementation of the budget.
“Our goal is to continue strengthening healthcare services while building Tanzania into a key medical tourism hub in the East African region,” he said.
Several MPs used the debate to push for further investment in primary healthcare services, especially in rural areas where shortages of medicines and medical equipment remain a challenge.
Singida West MP Elibariki Kingu urged the government to increase allocations for essential medicines and medical supplies at lower-level health facilities to ensure services reach more wananchi in villages and underserved communities.
He also emphasised the importance of sustaining momentum towards the implementation of universal health insurance, describing it as one of the country’s most critical social protection priorities.
Meanwhile, Gairo MP Ahmed Shabiby defended the government’s strategy of investing in domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing, warning against individuals opposing the initiative.
He argued that local production of medicines would strengthen national health security while reducing the country’s dependence on imports.
Under the approved estimates, Tzs1.148 trillion—equivalent to 64 percent of the total budget—has been earmarked for development expenditure, including infrastructure projects and strategic investments in the health sector.
The remaining Tzs652.236 billion, representing 36 percent of the budget, will finance recurrent expenditure, including operational costs and service delivery.
The approval comes at a time when Tanzania is intensifying reforms in the health sector, with the government seeking to expand specialised treatment services, improve access to healthcare and boost local manufacturing capacity in the pharmaceutical industry.
