Mvumi Hospital originated as a nursing station started by missionaries at Mvumi in 1900 (see Knox, 1991). In 1927 a dispensary was opened, and in 1934 it achieved hospital status with the opening of a maternity ward. In 1938 new wards were built and the hospital was greatly expanded in the 1960's and 1970's to its present size of 280 beds.

Its role as a major training institution serving the whole country started with the inauguration of the Nurse/Midwives' Training School in 1943. It continued with the opening of the Laboratory Assistants Training School in 1963, Rural Medical Aide (RMA) Training School in 1971, Ophthalmic Assistant Training School in 1976 and Hospital Technician's Training School in 1988 (see Hospital Reports for details of student numbers). The RMA school later became a government Medical Assistant Training Centre.

In the field of Community Health Mvumi Hospital was one of the pioneers in Tanzania starting in 1963. It was one of the first to emphasise community-based health care in accordance with the Alma Ata Declaration of 1978. Promotion of primary health care was integrated with improvements in water supply, sanitation, agricultural and veterinary practices in 29 villages serving nearly 100,000 people. This led to rapid increases in the immunization coverage from 19% in 1982/83 to 85% in 1987/88 with a consequent improvement in child health. The activities of the department expanded greatly in the 1970's and 1980's with the training of many village health workers and traditional birth attendants. Since the building of the new Seminar Centre in 1990 the hospital has hosted frequent training workshops for health professionals and traditional healers and birth attendants.

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