AS the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) Bill is set for second reading next week, the government assured that 15 million poor Tanzanians will be covered for free of charge.
However, to start with, the government will offer the UHI to 30 per cent of them, according to Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu.
The minister stated this during a seminar to Members of Parliament on the UHI coverage.
If signed into a law, the implementation of the UHI,which expected to kick off in the next financial year, will be in phases, not only to the poor but to all Tanzanians.
“We will start with those who are in formal sector before we move to other groups,” said Ms Mwalimu.
Speaking earlier, Joseph Kakunda (Sikonge-CCM) said: “The UHI should be implemented gradually.”
Mr Tabasamu Mwagao (Sengerema-CCM) said the 340,000/- charges for a family with six members was too high to be afforded by the majority of Tanzanians.
He said all over the world, the UHI had the finance sourcing from the government.
This, he added, calls for the government to borrow a leaf from other countries that are implementing the UHI on the globe.
Health deputy minister Godwin Mollel was quick to respond, saying the 340,000/- is a reasonable amount.
“Tanzanians who have no health insurance are using a lot of money, amounting to 1.7 tri/- per year. The Universal Health Insurance will be a sigh of relief to them,” said Dr Mollel.
Data indicates that by 2021 out of about 60 million Tanzanians, only 15 per cent of them were covered, which means out of every 100 Tanzanians, 15 only are covered.
To get all Tanzanians onboard, the UHI membership card will be made part of the prerequisites to access some public services.
For instance, it will be compulsory for citizens to have health insurance whenever seeking driving license, motor vehicle insurance and admitting children for advanced secondary education or colleges.
Other services that will also be issued after producing evidence of being enrolled in health insurance schemes are provision of travel documents (passport), Taxpayers Identification Number (TIN), business license, visa, sim card registration and provision of national identification card (ID), the Bill proposes.