By Costantine Muganyizi
Tanzania’s health sector is set to take a fresh look at how the country can build stronger, more self-reliant and technology-enabled health systems when policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, innovators and development partners converge for the 13th Tanzania Health Summit (THS) in Dar es Salaam next week.
THS says on its website that the three-day summit, scheduled for October 5–7, 2026 at the Mlimani City Conference Centre, will be held under the theme “Building Health Sovereignty and Strengthening Health Systems in a Changing Global Order.”
The theme comes at a time when countries are reassessing the resilience of their health systems amid rapidly changing global conditions, technological disruption, emerging health threats and evolving patterns of international cooperation.
For THS President Dr Omary Chillo, the summit provides an opportunity to move the health conversation beyond identifying challenges towards practical solutions that can strengthen Tanzania’s capacity to deliver quality and sustainable healthcare.
“Health sovereignty is not about isolation; it is about building the capacity to make informed decisions, develop local solutions and ensure that our health system can withstand shocks while continuing to serve our people,” Dr Chillo notes on the wrbsite.
He says the 13th edition would place particular emphasis on the role of technology, innovation and evidence in transforming healthcare delivery, noting that digital tools are increasingly changing how patients access services and how health professionals diagnose and manage diseases.
“We are entering a period where data, artificial intelligence, telemedicine and digital health are no longer simply emerging concepts. They are becoming critical components of modern healthcare systems,” he said.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to examine how these technologies can be deployed responsibly to improve patient care, strengthen diagnostics, enhance emergency preparedness and support more effective public-health interventions.
Dr Chillo said THS had grown into an important national platform for connecting different parts of the health ecosystem, with the annual gathering expanding in both participation and the breadth of issues under discussion.
“Our responsibility at THS is to bring people together, connect evidence with policy and create space for partnerships that can translate innovation into measurable improvements in people’s health,” he said.
The summit will also provide opportunities for researchers, health practitioners, technology companies, policymakers and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge, showcase innovations and explore collaborations.
With healthcare increasingly linked to technology, investment, data and national resilience, the 13th THS is positioned not only as a health-sector gathering but also as a platform for discussing how Tanzania can build a stronger healthcare economy and more resilient health system. THS is a non-profit health organisation focused on improving the lives of Tanzanians through advocacy for better health practices and implementation of healthcare-related projects.
