Investment in Training of Specialist Doctors for Rare Diseases

TLDR

• Deputy Minister for Health Dr Florence Samizi, representing Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa, said this today, August 13, 2026, while presenting a statement on the impact of rare diseases before the Parliamentary.
• According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), a rare disease is a health condition that affects fewer than one in 2,000 people, while globally there are more than 7,000 rare diseases affecting more than 300 million.
• She said in Tanzania, rare diseases are estimated to affect between one million and three million people, including sickle cell disease, haemophilia, certain immune system disorders and diseases affecting the nervous.
• Dr Samizi commended and thanked President Samia Suluhu Hassan for spearheading efforts to address rare diseases by allocating funds for diagnosis, screening and the training of specialist and sub-specialist doctors to.
• She said continued investment in early diagnosis, specialised treatment, health information systems and the training of healthcare professionals would be critical to ensuring people living with rare diseases receive.