Tanzania (TZ)
East African expat base with Swahili-English daily life, Indian Ocean access, major safari and NGO sectors, growing mining and energy work, and relatively low local costs offset by permit, insurance, school, and hard-currency housing expenses.
Healthcare in Tanzania
Tanzania has a mixed public-private health system. Public facilities provide broad access but can be crowded and resource-constrained. Expats usually rely on private clinics/hospitals in Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Moshi, Mwanza, and Zanzibar, plus international insurance with evacuation cover for serious cases.
Quality is highly location-dependent: good private primary/specialist care exists in major cities, while complex cases may require evacuation to Nairobi, South Africa, Europe, or home country.
Public healthcare: Public health system
Mfumo wa afya wa umma
- Primary care
- Maternal and child health
- Emergency stabilization
- Vaccinations
- Public hospital services
- Many specialist private services
- International-standard private rooms
- Medical evacuation
- Some medicines and diagnostics if unavailable
Private healthcare: Private hospitals and clinics
Accessing care
No strict GP gatekeeping like the UK. Expats often register with a private clinic and use it as first point of care.
Private specialists may be accessed directly, but insurers often require referral/pre-authorisation.
Call 112, but also call your private hospital and insurer. Ambulance response varies; many expats use private ambulance/hospital coordination.
Major private hospitals offer emergency desks; smaller clinics may close evenings/weekends.
Buy from reputable registered pharmacies only. Counterfeit/substandard medicines are a risk in informal markets.
Private dental clinics are available in major cities; insurance coverage varies.
Limited public mental-health access; private counsellors, online therapy, employer EAP, and insurer networks are common.
Private maternity is available in Dar and major cities; high-risk pregnancies may require Nairobi/South Africa/Europe planning.
Expat-specific advice
- Buy international health insurance with evacuation before arrival
- Register with a private clinic in your first week
- Save hospital, ambulance, insurer, and embassy emergency numbers
- Carry yellow fever and vaccination records
- Ask where the nearest 24-hour pharmacy is
Pharmacies (Duka la dawa / pharmacy)
- Paracetamol
- Ibuprofen
- Oral rehydration salts
- Antihistamines
- Malaria rapid tests/medicines via clinician
- Mosquito repellent
- Basic antibiotics only with proper medical advice
Typical costs
| GP visit (with insurance) | TSh 0–30,000 copay depending on insurer plan; direct billing at major private hospitals |
| GP visit (private pay) | TSh 50,000-200,000 private |
| Specialist visit | TSh 100,000-400,000+ |
| Emergency visit | Deposit often required; costs vary widely |
| MRI scan | Several hundred USD equivalent where available |
| Prescription average | TSh 10,000-100,000 depending medicine |
| Dental check-up | TSh 50,000-200,000 |
| Baby delivery | Private delivery can run from several million TZS to much higher for C-section/complications |
Healthcare
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