The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) contributes to the health services in the country by running 20 hospitals and more than 160 primary health care institutions, corresponding to about 15% of health services in the country.

The motto of the Church health institutions is to give quality services to all. That brings big challenge in the economy of all these institutions. After health sector was opened to private institutions the church hospitals lost many patients who are able to pay and the poor were left to them as well as to government hospitals. Some hospitals have got DDH (District Designated Hospital) status and their economical situation is better, because government covers a big part of the running costs. That should be the situation of all church hospitals in the present market situation.

Most of the Church institutions are located in rural Tanzania and are the only place where to get good quality service for most of the people, who cannot afford to travel far.

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