The National Oral Health Strategic Plan V (2026–2031) for Tanzania Mainland provides a comprehensive framework to strengthen oral health services and improve equitable access to quality oral healthcare across the country. Developed by the Ministry of Health in alignment with national health priorities and the WHO Global Strategy on Oral Health 2023–2030, the plan responds to the growing burden of oral diseases and builds on lessons and unfinished priorities from previous strategic plans. The strategy is informed by evidence from the 2020 National Oral Health Survey, which highlights high prevalence of dental caries, periodontal diseases, dental fluorosis, and malocclusion among both children and adults, alongside significant gaps in service coverage, workforce availability, and financing.
The plan envisions a society enjoying the highest attainable standard of oral health as a contribution to national development, with a mission to provide integrated, equitable, affordable, and client-centred oral health services. Guided by principles of professionalism, ethics, quality, innovation, equity, accountability, integrity, and affordability, the strategy focuses on six key priority areas: strengthening leadership and governance; enhancing human resources for oral health; improving the availability of commodities and equipment; expanding oral health promotion and disease prevention; upgrading oral healthcare services and infrastructure; and strengthening surveillance, monitoring, and research systems.
Implementation of the plan will be coordinated through national and sub-national health structures, supported by partnerships, resource mobilization, and routine monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. The plan seeks to accelerate progress toward universal access to oral healthcare, increase service availability across public health facilities, and ensure sustainable improvements in oral health outcomes for all Tanzanians.
