With a strong emphasis on increasing specialized treatment, improving service delivery, and boosting the welfare of healthcare professionals, the government has promised extensive reforms aimed at raising the nation’s health system to international standards.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa stated that the reforms are based on six major strategic pillars intended to make the nation’s healthcare system a globally competitive industry while speaking in Dar es Salaam on Monday while visiting Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH).
“At the centre of these reforms is the improvement of service delivery and the pursuit of international accreditation,” stated Mr. Mchengerwa during his visit to the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH), which also included a session with health workers.
In order to draw in foreign patients, he ordered Muhimbili Hospital and other medical facilities, including zonal hospitals and facilities throughout the nation, to start the accreditation process right away.
The development of the pharmaceutical and medical equipment industries, the development of medical tourism, the improvement of preventive healthcare, the growth of medical research and innovation, and the advancement of digital health through contemporary technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are other top priorities of the reform agenda.
Additionally, the Health Minister declared that the government is planning to invest an estimated 1.3 trillion to modernize Muhimbili National Hospital.
He outlined significant advancements in the government’s efforts to increase access to highly specialized medical care.According to him, the government gave important referral facilities such MNH, the Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute (JKCI), Ocean Road Cancer Institute, and Benjamin Mkapa Hospital 8 billion/-during the 2024–2025 fiscal year.
“These funds supported patients who could not afford specialised treatment. Through this programme, 677 Tanzanians received lifesaving care within the country,” the minister stated.
Additionally, the government has set aside 6.7 billion/-for the 2025–2026 fiscal year to finance the treatment of at least 760 low-income patients who require specialized treatments.
“We will continue allocating funds to ensure that no Tanzanian is denied specialised care due to financial challenges,” he stated.
“Our long-term objective is to strengthen our domestic healthcare capacity, reduce costly foreign referrals and position Tanzania as a destination for medical tourism,” he stated.
MNH Executive Director Dr. Delilah Kimambo, who presented the hospital’s performance report through October of this year, stated that the organization has made great progress in enhancing healthcare services by implementing cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI).
According to her, MNH has implemented specialized AI-powered medical equipment called Dozee AI, which keeps track of patients’ vital signs and allows for the early identification of possible decline before issues develop.
She claims that the technology has improved prompt clinical decision-making using real-time data obtained at nursing stations and greatly decreased delays in giving emergency care to admitted patients.
“This system has helped to minimise delays in emergency response and improved accuracy in clinical decisions, as patient information is now available instantly at nurse stations,” Dr Kimambo stated.
She also credited the hospital’s improving success to ongoing government infrastructure investments and ongoing training for medical staff, both of which have improved service quality and increased public trust.
