Government announces major upgrade for Muhimbili National Hospital
The Tanzanian government has announced a modernization project for Muhimbili National Hospital, aimed at strengthening specialist and super-specialist healthcare services nationwide. Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, speaking on behalf of Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa, said the construction of the New Muhimbili Hospital is part of government efforts to improve healthcare services and ensure access to modern facilities that meet international standards, as reported by tz.
Dr Samizi stated that the project is intended to address the growing number of patients requiring specialist and super-specialist services, as well as challenges arising from the ageing of some buildings and infrastructure at the hospital. According to the project implementation report, Muhimbili continues to receive patients for specialist treatment from different parts of Tanzania and neighbouring countries, increasing demand for modern infrastructure and timely services.
New services and expected impact
Upon completion, the project would enable Muhimbili to expand and introduce a range of specialist and super-specialist services, including kidney transplantation, radiotherapy, minimally invasive surgery, intensive care, and emergency services. Other services slated for improvement or introduction include in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) and bone marrow transplantation, which is expected to reduce the need for some patients to seek specialised treatment abroad.
Dr Samizi also said the project would strengthen training for healthcare professionals and support research requiring modern medical technologies. The government aims to transform Muhimbili into a centre of excellence for specialist and super-specialist healthcare, with the hope of boosting medical tourism in East and Southern Africa, according to tz.
Push for universal health insurance
Separately, Finance Minister Ambassador Khamis Mussa Omar announced that the government aims to achieve 100 percent household enrollment in the Universal Health Insurance Scheme by the 2028/29 financial year. Speaking in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as a panellist in a Finance Ministers’ discussion on "Sustainable Health Financing: Financing Africa’s Health Future in an Era of Fiscal Constraints and Health Self-Reliance," held ahead of the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, Omar noted that about 10 percent of households are currently enrolled.
He identified economic growth, improved domestic revenue collection, health-related taxes, efficient public spending, universal health insurance, private-sector investment, and innovative financing as key sources of sustainable healthcare financing. The minister also said the government is expanding the Health Equity Fund to improve access to healthcare for poor and vulnerable citizens, as reported by tz.
Officials urge private and regional cooperation
Deputy Health Minister Dr Florence Samizi, also present at the finance ministers’ meeting, said Tanzania had made significant progress in the health sector by increasing its budget and improving medical infrastructure. She urged the private sector to invest in medicines, diagnostic equipment, specialist services, medical technologies, and digital health systems, describing health self-reliance as the capacity to finance care and produce essential medicines locally.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Prof Mohamed Janabi, addressing the same forum, urged African countries to focus on establishing pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, strengthening primary healthcare, and implementing universal health coverage. He noted that about 80% of medicines required in Africa are imported, and that citizens in some countries pay more than 70% of their healthcare costs out of pocket, according to tz.
The discussion highlighted financial pressures affecting progress towards universal health coverage, including declining external aid, fiscal constraints, and rising debt. Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary and Commissioner for External Finance in the Ministry of Finance, Rished Bade, and senior officials from the Ministry of Health attended the meeting.