Date of publication:

01/08/2026

United Republic of Tanzania (the)

Do domestic laws and policies provide access to primary health care services for forcibly displaced and stateless persons?

ANALYSIS

Assessment by population

Refugees
Asylum-seekers
Analysis

In Tanzania, primary healthcare (PHC) services for refugees are primarily delivered within camps through facilities managed by humanitarian organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and its implementing partners. These services are generally provided free of charge to both refugees and nearby host communities. However, refugees residing outside these camps, including urban refugees, often encounter significant barriers in accessing PHC services due to legal restrictions on movement and financial constraints, as they are typically excluded from government-subsidized healthcare and national health insurance schemes. ​

Tanzania's health system is structured in a pyramidal referral system, starting from village health posts at the base, progressing to community dispensaries, rural health centers, district hospitals, regional hospitals, zonal referral/consultant hospitals, and culminating at national and specialized hospitals. Within this framework, PHC services are intended to be the foundation, offering essential medical care at the community level. However, for refugees, especially those outside the camps, accessing these services is often challenging due to their exclusion from national health insurance schemes and the associated financial burdens. ​

Strengthening coordination between government institutions, humanitarian organizations, and the private sector is crucial to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers receive timely and adequate primary healthcare services. This includes exploring the integration of refugees into national health insurance schemes and addressing legal and financial barriers that hinder their access to essential healthcare

    LAW & POLICY

    Related provisions of domestic law or policy

    The Local Government (Urban Authorities) Act

    Legal provision

    Section 54.2 - Basic functions of local government authorities

    For the purposes of the better execution of its functions, whether done alone or in co-operation and conjuction with any other local government authority or other person or body of persons, and subject to this Act or any other relevant written law, a local government authority shall take all such measures as in its opinion are necessary, desirable, conducive or expedient:- (c) for the furtherance and enhancement of the health, education, and the social, cultural and recreational life of the people;

    National Health Policy

    Legal provision

    Section 3.3.1 - Primary Care Services and Continuity of Care

    This policy denotes important change from very selective to comprehensive primary health care package which includes geriatric health care, palliative care and rehabilitative care services. The facilities which start providing the larger package of comprehensive primary health care will be called ‘Health and Wellness Centers.

    Public Health Act

    Legal provision

    Section 5 - Duties and functions of the Authorities

    Every Authority shall- (a) take lawful, necessary and reasonable measures to prevent the occurrence of or deal with any out-break or prevalence of any infectious or communicable and non-communicable disease; (b) cause an appropriate Environmental Health Impact Assessment Study to be conducted for all activities as may be provided for under the Environmental Management Act; (c) safeguard and promote the public health standards; (d) issue notices for rectification of any breach of public health standards; (e) implement and enforce public health standards through bylaws; (f) promote public health standards in its area through creation of awareness and educational campaigns; (g) carry out inspections; and (h) exercise the powers or perform duties in respect of the public health in accordance with this Act or any other written law

    National Health Insurance Fund Act

    Legal provision

    Section 12.1 - Entitlement to benefit

    A member whose contributions have been paid for three months after the coming into operation of the Fund shall be entitled to the benefit package under the Fund.

    Community Health Fund Act

    Legal provision

    Section 9 - Health care services to members

    Subject to the provisions of this Act, every members' household shall be entitled to medical services of its choice which have been prepaid for at a preselected health care facility within the respective district.