The Government has officially launched the first phase of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) programme, targeting vulnerable groups including elderly citizens, children, pregnant women and persons with disabilities whose coverage will be fully financed by the state.
At the same time, authorities have introduced an Essential Health Services Package that will be accessible to households at an annual cost of TZS 150,000 for families of up to six members, in a move aimed at expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare across the country.
The announcement was made on January 23, 2026, in Dodoma by the Minister for Health, Mohamed Mchengerwa, during a meeting with regional, district and local government leaders focused on the implementation of the Universal Health Insurance initiative.
Mr Mchengerwa said the programme will officially take effect on January 26, 2026, and urged government officials to intensify public education efforts to ensure citizens understand the benefits and procedures for enrolling in the scheme. He also called for continued improvements in healthcare delivery at facilities nationwide.
Under the new arrangement, a household contribution of TZS 150,000 per year will cover six people—including the primary contributor, their spouse and four dependents.
The minister clarified that eligible dependents may include a parent of the member or their spouse, biological, adopted or stepchildren under the age of 21, or biological siblings under the same age bracket.
He added that services under the Essential Health Services Package will be provided through accredited health facilities that have formal agreements with health insurance schemes, with care delivered in line with the national referral system to ensure efficiency and quality.
Mr Mchengerwa emphasized that the success of Universal Health Insurance depends on effective public awareness, urging leaders at all levels to ensure accurate information reaches communities so that citizens recognize the importance of health insurance coverage.
The rollout of Universal Health Insurance represents a significant step in Tanzania’s efforts to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses, strengthen health financing and move closer to universal access to essential health services.