Mwinyi prioritises sustainable healthcare system
ZANZIBAR: THE Zanzibar government is prioritising the development of a strong and sustainable healthcare system to ensure all citizens have access to quality medical services, while reducing reliance on short-term projects and donor-funded programmes.
President Dr Hussein Mwinyi made the remarks on Monday at the State House in Stone Town, during talks with a Swiss government delegation led by its Ambassador to Tanzania and Burundi, Ms Nicole Providoli.
Dr Mwinyi said his administration is investing in resilient health institutions capable of meeting the islands’ long-term healthcare needs, stressing that temporary interventions alone cannot guarantee consistent, high-quality healthcare services.
“Sustainable healthcare depends on strong institutions, skilled personnel, effective management systems and reliable financing mechanisms,” the President said.
He noted that his government is strengthening healthcare financing to improve service delivery while easing the financial burden on households.
He cited the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance programme as one of the government’s key reforms aimed at ensuring all citizens can access quality healthcare without suffering financial hardship.
Dr Mwinyi also commended the Swiss government for its longstanding support to Zanzibar’s health sector, particularly in health research, malaria control, healthcare financing and strengthening service delivery systems.
He said the partnership has helped improve institutional capacity, expand access to quality healthcare and enhance the well-being of Zanzibaris, expressing the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Switzerland in areas of mutual interest.
In her remarks, Ambassador Providoli said Switzerland and Zanzibar enjoy a longstanding partnership founded on mutual trust, respect and a shared commitment to sustainable development.
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She said the health sector will remain one of the key areas of cooperation, with continued support focusing on strengthening health systems, advancing health research, improving healthcare financing and supporting Zanzibar’s efforts to eliminate malaria.
Switzerland has been one of Tanzania’s long-standing development partners, supporting programmes in health, governance, local economic development and climate resilience.
Through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the country has worked with both the Union Government and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar to strengthen health systems and improve access to quality healthcare services.
In Zanzibar, Swiss support has contributed to efforts to eliminate Malaria, improve healthcare financing and strengthen health research and institutional capacity.
Switzerland has also provided technical support to the development and implementation of Zanzibar’s Universal Health Insurance programme, a flagship reform aimed at achieving universal health coverage and protecting households from catastrophic healthcare costs.
The partnership forms part of Switzerland’s broader cooperation with Tanzania, which focuses on building resilient public institutions and improving access to essential social services to support sustainable and inclusive development.
