Colonialism and the Development of the Tanzanian Health System

This thesis examines Colonialism’s lasting effects on the formation of the Tanzanian Healthcare system. Identified key characteristics of the Colonial Health Model include regional specialization, direct taxation, hospital-based care, and physician leadership. The effects of these characteristics are evaluated considering post-independence domestic policies and international health movements, including the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration and the 1993 World Bank Report. A finding of this thesis is that an overreliance on the Colonial Health model has stifled the development of the Tanzanian Healthcare System. Three historically informed recommendations are submitted to support the development of a preventive-focused health model more in line with the 1967 Arusha Declaration and the 1969-1974 Second Tanzanian Development Plan.