KCMC is a referral hospital for the Northern Zone of Tanzania (Kilimanjaro, Tanga, Arusha, Manyara, Dodoma and Singida). In addition, KCMC has well established Outreach Services and Community Health Services, whereby its specialists visit hospitals in many parts of the country by air or by road, with over 250 service days per year. Other outreach activities are home visits by the social welfare department, mother-child health care and occupational therapy.
The teaching and research activities going on in the hospital are intense. This hospital is the main teaching hospital for the KCMUCo. It provides and promotes a very conducive environment for teaching and learning.