MZRH was formally upgraded from the former Mbeya regional hospital back in1984 and was officially inaugurated by her Highness, the daughter of the Queen of Britain in 1985.

This success is backed up by the fact that the United Kingdom (UK) government was the major partner in the process of upgrading Mbeya Regional Hospital. The hospital serves approximately 8 million people in six regions namely; Katavi, Njombe, Rukwa, Ruvuma, Iringa and Mbeya.