PM: Unpaid bills must not delay burials

DODOMA: PRIME Minister Dr Mwigulu Nchemba has directed all public hospitals to stop withholding bodies over unpaid medical bills and ensure full compliance with government guidelines prohibiting the practice.

The Premier issued the directive yesterday in the National Assembly while responding to a question by Special Seats MP (CCM) Bonnah Kamoli, who sought clarification on reports that some hospitals continue detaining bodies until families settle outstanding medical expenses.

Dr Nchemba acknowledged that the practice had existed for many years in several health facilities, but stressed that the government had already taken steps to end it. He said President Samia Suluhu Hassan had made a commitment during the election campaign to stop the practice, leading to the issuance of an official government circular to guide implementation.

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“The government has already issued clear directives on this matter and hospitals are required to comply fully. Financial challenges should never be used as a reason to deny families the right to bury their loved ones,” he said.

The Prime Minister noted that delaying burials conflicts with many cultural and religious beliefs observed across the country.

“It is important to recognize that in many of our cultural and religious traditions, delaying burial is unacceptable. Once medical procedures have been completed, families should be allowed to collect the bodies immediately,” he said.

He emphasized that any outstanding medical bills should instead be handled through follow-up administrative procedures without interfering with funeral arrangements. Dr Nchemba also called on Tanzanians to embrace the government’s long-term strategy of expanding universal health insurance coverage, saying it would help address recurring disputes linked to medical expenses.

According to him, wider enrolment in health insurance schemes would reduce the burden of outof-pocket payments and ensure treatment costs are covered through structured systems.

“With universal health insurance, healthcare services will be managed through systems that have proven effective in many parts of the world. This will significantly reduce conflicts related to medical bills,” he said.

The Premier urged citizens to support and enrol in the universal health insurance programme, describing it as a sustainable solution to challenges affecting access to healthcare services.

Meanwhile, Dr Nchemba has directed the Ministry of Health and relevant professional councils to assess the possibility of introducing licensing requirements for individuals providing public health and nutrition education.

The directive followed a question from Hai MP (CCM) Saashisha Mafue, who sought to know the government’s plans to regulate nutrition education amid a growing number of unqualified individuals sharing health advice, particularly through social media platforms.

Responding, the Prime Minister said the government was concerned about the increasing spread of unverified health information, which in some cases has influenced public behaviour without scientific backing. He further said that while more Tanzanians are now pursuing studies in health-related fields, the rapid growth of digital communication platforms has also allowed individuals without professional qualifications to reach large audiences.

“There are many people today discussing health matters online. Some are qualified professionals, but others are not, and this creates risks when the public receives information that has not been scientifically verified,” he said.

Dr Nchemba said misleading health claims can quickly spread and create unnecessary panic or sudden demand for certain products. He cited recent claims circulating on social media suggesting that donkey meat could prevent or treat joint diseases, despite the absence of medical evidence.

“We recently witnessed claims that donkey meat could cure joint-related illnesses. Such statements spread very quickly and even triggered discussions in some areas about establishing donkey meat markets, despite lacking scientific proof,” he said.

“This shows how quickly misinformation can spread and affect people’s choices.” The Prime Minister said the government would continue strengthening enforcement of existing health and nutrition policies, laws and professional guidelines to protect the public from misleading information.

He added that any future regulatory framework would aim to ensure that nutrition and health education is delivered responsibly by qualified and certified professionals.