The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania has joined fellow Commonwealth member states in reaffirming its commitment to advancing Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening primary healthcare systems.
This commitment was expressed on May 17, 2025, by the Minister for Health, Jenista Mhagama, while delivering Tanzania’s national statement during the 37th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, currently taking place in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Tanzania fully supports the Commonwealth’s efforts to accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage and the enhancement of primary healthcare services. We firmly believe that by investing in resilient and inclusive health systems, we can achieve sustainable development goals,” stated Minister Mhagama.
She emphasized that realizing these goals requires joint efforts among Commonwealth countries to prioritize health system reforms and address the persistent challenges in healthcare financing.
Minister Mhagama highlighted that Tanzania has already enacted the Universal Health Insurance Act as a major step toward achieving health for all.
“This legislation is designed to establish a comprehensive and sustainable mechanism for financing healthcare services. It ensures that all Tanzanians regardless of their economic status have access to quality health services without facing financial hardship,” she explained.
In a related development, the Tanzanian delegation led by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, along with Health Minister for Mainland Tanzania, Jenista Mhagama, and Zanzibar’s Minister for Health, Nassor Mazrui took the opportunity to campaign for Tanzania’s candidate, Prof. Mohammed Janab, in the upcoming election for WHO Regional Director for Africa.
The delegation engaged with Health Ministers and leaders from African Commonwealth member states to promote his candidacy.