| Analysis of medical problems in developing countries is too often quantitative in nature, i.e., related to a lack of manpower, money, and facilities; the kind and quality of care offered by existing institutions and training of medical personnel are often overlooked. This paper discusses recent changes in Tanzania's health care services, based on a qualitative reorganization. In the first and second five-year plans (1964-69 and 1969-74), the trend has been to encourage the extension of health care to rural areas through a rural health centre policy and to place more emphasis on the preventive aspects of medicine. Prior to this, people had depended on outpatient clinics and dispensaries for purely curative forms of medicine, such as first aid treatment. Changes are now being carried out through a village health service, in which preventive and curative aspects are combined and implemented by an auxiliary category known as "village medical helpers"; a mobile health service, which consults with district village leaders in order to deal with particular local needs; and the establishment of new schools for training rural medical aides. |