The Ministry of Health launched the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) in July 1977.

The Program 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 Program.

The Ministry of Health is collaborating with various partners (local and international) in implementing control of TB and Leprosy in the country.

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), KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (KNCV) and The World Health Organisation (WHO). The local NGOs include PASADA, Tanzania Leprosy Association, Rufiji Leprosy Trust and a number of faith-based hospitals.

The international partners and the Ministry of Health together form the NTLP Management Committee (NMC), which oversees the implementation of the NTLP. .