President Samia Suluhu Hassan has been recognised for Tanzania’s progress in strengthening primary healthcare, particularly efforts that have helped improve maternal and child health services and reduce maternal deaths.
Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba said the progress had earned Tanzania international recognition, including the President’s receipt of the 2025 Goalkeepers Award and her appointment as the African Union champion for maternal and child health in 2026.
Dr Nchemba made the remarks yesterday when he opened the Second International Primary Health Care Conference at the Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC) on behalf of President Samia.
“Tanzania has made significant progress in ensuring that citizens have access to healthcare, and the Government is now putting greater emphasis on improving the quality and efficiency of those services,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the Government was expanding investment in health infrastructure and human resources as it seeks to improve access to services, particularly at the primary level where most Tanzanians receive care.
More than 16,000 health workers were recruited between December 2025 and 2026, while more than 430 houses for health workers have been constructed. The Government plans to build about 2,000 additional houses by 2030.
Dr Nchemba also linked the country’s healthcare reforms to the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance Act, saying it would help low-income households access quality healthcare at affordable costs.
The figures presented at the conference show the central role played by primary healthcare facilities in the country’s health system.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office–TAMISEMI, Prof Riziki Shemdoe, said 27.8 million, equivalent to 86 percent, of the 32.3 million outpatient visits recorded at public health facilities were made at primary healthcare facilities.
He said the country had 8,288 Government-owned health facilities, of which 7,946, or 95.8 percent, were primary healthcare facilities managed by local government authorities.
Prof Shemdoe said 96.6 percent of the facilities had been connected to the Government of Tanzania Hospital Management Information System (GoTHOMIS), while 87.6 percent had been linked to the Government electronic Payment Gateway (GePG).
The digital systems, he said, were helping improve efficiency, transparency and management of health service revenues.
In Arusha, Regional Commissioner Amos Makalla said more than TZS94 billion had been invested in primary healthcare services, helping increase the number of health facilities from 382 to 450.
The investment has also supported the recruitment of 823 health workers and the provision of 27 vehicles for healthcare services, he said.
Mr Makalla said the measures had contributed to a reduction in maternal and child deaths in the region.
However, civil society organisations called for greater community involvement in decisions affecting primary healthcare.
Speaking on behalf of health-focused civil society organisations, Amson Mwendamake urged the Government to involve communities more closely in planning, implementing and monitoring health programmes and budgets.
He also called for increased domestic financing for healthcare, stronger protection for vulnerable groups against high medical costs and greater accountability between the Government and health-sector stakeholders.
The three-day conference, which runs until September 11, has brought together health professionals and other stakeholders to assess challenges facing primary healthcare and discuss ways of improving access and service delivery.
The meeting is being held under the theme “Towards Universal Health Coverage: Strengthening Sustainable Health Financing, Efficiency and Service Improvement at Primary Level.”