64 years on, govt eyes stronger health for all

DAR ES SALAAM: AS Tanzania marks 64 years of independence, the health sector continues to undergo significant transformations, including the launch of a pilot programme for Universal Health Insurance (UHI).

This initiative is among the priority areas of President Samia Suluhu Hassan within her first 100 days in office, signalling the start of major reforms aimed at providing quality and equitable healthcare services to all Tanzanians.

The UHI programme seeks to ensure access to essential healthcare services, reduce the financial burden on families and strengthen the country’s healthcare system pillars crucial for sustainable development and national well-being.

It also aims to establish uniform standards across the country, ensuring that both urban and rural populations receive comparable services.

While inaugurating the 13th Parliament, President Samia called on Members of Parliament to support the proposals that will drive the successful implementation of the programme.

“We are preparing to begin the pilot programme for Universal Health Insurance. The government will come to you, Honourable Members of Parliament, with proposals on how to make these pilots successful,” said President Samia.

“I ask you to support these proposals, which will be the start of major reforms in the provision of quality health services for all people in the country.”

She further highlighted the government’s plan to digitally integrate health service centres and equip them with standardised facilities and services at all levels.

A landmark moment for Tanzania’s health sector came in 2023 when the National Assembly unanimously passed the Universal Health Insurance Bill, which seeks to provide widespread access to healthcare through a comprehensive insurance system.

After five years of deliberations, the bill was signed into law by President Samia on December 5, 2023, paving the way for the programme’s rollout.

The UHI scheme is set to cover 15 million people, or 25 per cent of the population, in its first year, providing relief especially to vulnerable citizens by reducing the cost of medical care.

President Samia also underscored the government’s commitment to creating employment in the health and education sectors, noting that 7,000 teaching posts and 5,000 health worker positions have already been announced.

“This is an initial step in responding to citizens’ desire for improved health and education services,” she said.

The President added that construction of hospitals, health centres and dispensaries underway across the country will continue, alongside efforts to upgrade Muhimbili National Hospital, increasing its bed capacity from 1,435 to 1,757 by 2030.

Once completed, the hospital is expected to provide specialised services and become a trusted referral centre in East Africa.

Efforts will also focus on expanding specialised services in Regional and Zonal Referral Hospitals to reduce the costs incurred by citizens seeking treatment outside their regions.

President Samia further revealed plans to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to epidemic diseases through the construction of a National Hospital for epidemics in Kagera Region.

The government also intends to increase domestic production of medicines, medical equipment and supplies to reduce reliance on imports and lower treatment costs.

“Under this initiative, the government will ensure a reliable market for local pharmaceutical industries through the Medical Stores Department (MSD),” she said.

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Additionally, the government will promote research, identification and certification of traditional medicines.

President Samia emphasised that after these major investments, the focus will shift towards preventive medicine rather than solely curative care.

As part of its reforms, the government aims to ensure that even those in the informal sector and rural areas benefit from healthcare services,” she said.

According to NHIF, currently, health insurance coverage in Tanzania stands at just about 15 per cent of the population.

Of this, 8 per cent is covered by NHIF, 6 per cent through the improved Community Health Fund (iCHF), and only 1 per cent by private insurance.

The government had already assured the public that it is well prepared to implement the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) with proper infrastructures that will enable citizens to access quality health services.

Speaking during the opening of a symposium on UHI that brought together development partners, health practitioners, government officials and various health stakeholders, retired Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the government has successfully managed to improve health provision infrastructures in the country, adding that it is continuing to improve the environment that will enable every citizen to access health services without problems.

He said the government has constructed a number of dispensaries, health centres, hospitals and referral hospitals across the country.

He added that the government has also increased modern medical equipment including modern screening machines, hospital beds and many others.

The Premier also said the government is continuing to build capacity for the Medical Store Department (MSD) so that it could be able to supply medicines and other equipment in various parts of the country, including in rural villages on time.

“We are doing everything in our capacity to ensure MSD is doing its job efficiently, medical equipment and medicines must be supplied to all health centres and hospitals on time,” he said.

Mr Majaliwa also called on the Ministry of Health and other health stakeholders to be innovative and ensure they come up with new sources of funding that will support the implementation of the UHI in the country.

He also asked health stakeholders and development partners to cooperate and support the government in its mission to implement UHI.

He asked the stakeholders to share ideas, advice and opinion on the proper ways of ensuring healthcare financing system is sustainable.

Mr Majaliwa said that to strengthen the healthcare financing system, the government has already begun taking various steps, including increasing the budget allocation for the health sector.