The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare launched the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Programme (NTLP) in July 1977. The programme is charged with the responsibility of facilitating early diagnosis, treatment and cure of as many tuberculosis and leprosy patients as possible so as to reduce the incidence and prevalence of these diseases until they are no longer a major public health problem in the country and to reduce physical disability and psycho-social suffering caused by the two diseases. Tanzania was the first country in the world to successfully combine the control of TB and Leprosy into a single programme.

Control of TB and Leprosy in the country is implemented in collaboration with partners. The partners are the Swiss Agency for Development Co-operation (SDC), Netherlands Development Agency (NEDA) through the Royal Netherlands Embassy (RNE), Development Cooperation Ireland (DCI), German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (GLRA), Royal Netherlands Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) and The World Health Organisation (WHO). The partners and the Ministry of Health together form the NTLP Management Committee (NMC), which oversees the implementation of the NTLP plans.

In February 12 2009, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare conducted NTLP evaluation in collaboration with partners. The review report was used as one of the inputs towards development of this strategic plan