Tanzania has called for increased investment in the health sector to improve the quality, accessibility and affordability of healthcare services for citizens.
The call was made on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during presentations and discussions at a side event held on the margins of the 76th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Presenting on behalf of Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa, the Tanzanian delegation outlined the country’s priorities under the Health Financing Strategy for the Future of the Health Sector in the African Region 2026–2035.
Tanzania said strengthening domestic financing for health, improving the efficiency of resource allocation and reducing out-of-pocket payments would be critical to making healthcare more accessible to citizens.
The country also emphasised the need for greater investment in early childhood development, beginning during pregnancy and continuing through the first eight years of a child’s life.
According to the delegation, such investment should focus on maternal and child health, nutrition, early childhood education, responsive parenting and caregiving, as well as child protection and safety.
On the regulation of health products, Tanzania reported that its regulatory system has reached Maturity Level Three, with efforts underway to attain Level Four.
The country called for adequate investment and stronger cooperation among African countries to strengthen the regulation of medicines and other health products and ensure that citizens have access to safe and quality-assured products.
Tanzania also outlined measures being taken to address emerging challenges in the fight against malaria, including mosquito resistance to insecticides, changing patterns of malaria transmission and inadequate financing for malaria prevention and treatment.
The discussions placed particular emphasis on accelerating access to innovative health technologies and products, ensuring the availability of safe and quality medicines, and strengthening local manufacturing and regulatory systems.
For Tanzania, the measures are expected to support efforts to reduce maternal and child deaths, strengthen implementation of universal health insurance and increase the availability of quality health products produced locally.
The government said stronger investment across these areas would ultimately help reduce the financial burden on households while improving access to safe, affordable and quality healthcare.
The Tanzanian delegation included Ministry of Health officials, among them Director of Preventive Services Dr Razalo Mihiga, Chief Government Pharmacist Daudi Msasi, Assistant Director for Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Dr Felix Bundala, and Head of the Health Sector Resources Secretariat Dr Vivian Wonanji.