TZ accelerates digital health shift
DAR ES SALAAM: THE government has called on healthcare professionals and stakeholders to focus on transforming innovations into practical community solutions, with a vision of building a more resilient and responsive healthcare system, particularly at the primary healthcare level in the country.
It has also insisted on the importance of data utilisation as a cornerstone for effective healthcare decision-making.
Speaking yesterday at the closing of the 12th Tanzania Health Summit, Government Chief Medical Officer, Dr Grace Magembe highlighted the need to strengthen systems for data use, embrace digital technologies and promote a culture of continuous quality improvement in primary healthcare.
The three-day summit, held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, was themed “Harnessing Data Utilisation and Technologies to Accelerate Universal Health Coverage” and attracted more than 1,700 participants.
“I know that data empowers our decision-making. Without data, you have no right to speak, that is what scientists will always tell us. You can only speak if you have data,” said Dr Magembe.
She added: “So how do we ensure the limited resources we have are used wisely and efficiently? Only when we are guided by data. Data tells us where to allocate, which resource, how much and when. That’s why this theme is crucial, especially now, as global changes in health financing continue to unfold.”
Dr Magembe reaffirmed the government’s commitment to collaborative healthcare development, noting that 80–85 per cent of services take place at the primary level.
She urged healthcare practitioners to become change agents, applying the summit’s discussions to improve their workplaces.
She also cited a major national achievement including the sharp reduction in maternal mortality from 556 to 104 deaths per 100,000 live births, underscoring the power of scientific monitoring and analysis.
World Health Organisation (WHO) Health System Coordinator in Tanzania, Dr Galbert Fedjo, echoed the call, stressing the need to leverage data and technology to save lives and improve healthcare access in remote areas.
He highlighted the role of digital platforms in enhancing service delivery but also pointed out persistent challenges, including fragmented systems, inequality in access, data quality issues and data protection concerns.
Dr Fedjo called for stronger governance, sound policies, infrastructure investment and capacity building to overcome these barriers.
He emphasised that government efforts alone are insufficient, urging private sector partnerships and sustainable financing to achieve universal health coverage in Africa.
Earlier, Tanzania Health Summit General Manager, Mr Anodi Kaihula, outlined several key resolutions adopted at the meeting. They include advancing digital transformation for better health, promoting data use as a driver of universal health coverage and adopting inclusive, community-centred health solutions.
Other resolutions called for patient-centred and collaborative care models, along with innovative financing approaches for the health sector.
