The government has renewed its call for Tanzanians to enroll in health insurance schemes, saying wider coverage is essential to achieving universal access to healthcare while protecting households from the financial burden of medical treatment.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Grace Magembe, said health insurance provides a sustainable financing mechanism that enables citizens to access healthcare services when needed, regardless of their financial circumstances.
She made the remarks on Saturday during an inspection of healthcare services at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital in Arusha, where she also met specialist and super-specialist doctors participating in a surgical outreach programme organised by the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community (ECSA-HC) and development partners.
Dr Magembe said healthcare is costly in every country, making it unrealistic for individuals to depend entirely on out-of-pocket payments whenever they require treatment.
"Many people insure their vehicles, motorcycles and homes. We must continue educating the public to recognise that health insurance is equally important because good health is the foundation of people's lives and economic productivity," she said.
She noted that poor health limits people's ability to work, run businesses and support their families, underscoring the importance of financial protection through health insurance.
According to Dr Magembe, health insurance is central to the country's efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by expanding access to healthcare, improving financial protection and supporting the delivery of quality medical services.
She explained that the insurance system works by pooling members' contributions into a common fund that finances medicines, medical supplies and other essential healthcare needs, allowing patients to receive treatment without delays even when medical costs are substantial.
Dr Magembe also urged healthcare professionals to strengthen public education campaigns on the benefits of health insurance in order to increase enrolment and broaden coverage across the country.
She said continued government investment in the health sector has significantly strengthened the country's healthcare system by expanding specialised and super-specialised services, improving the availability of medical equipment and reducing the number of patients seeking advanced treatment abroad.
