The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has been challenged to accelerate the rollout of universal health insurance, with the Government calling for greater innovation, accountability and citizen-focused service delivery to expand access to affordable healthcare.
Deputy Minister for Health, Dr Florence Samizi, said NHIF needed to move faster in implementing universal health insurance and adopt approaches that would enable more Tanzanians to access healthcare without being pushed into financial hardship.
She made the remarks on Friday, September 4, 2026, while closing the fourth meeting of the fourth NHIF Workers’ Council held at the East African Community (EAC) Conference Centre in Arusha.
Dr Samizi described universal health insurance as a key national agenda that could not be achieved by NHIF alone, saying it required coordinated efforts involving the Government, health service providers, employers, the private sector, citizens and other stakeholders.
She urged NHIF employees to take a more proactive approach to expanding coverage, particularly by using digital technology and other innovative systems to reach potential beneficiaries.
“Let us not wait for citizens to come to our offices; we should go to the citizens,” Dr Samizi said.
She said increased use of digital platforms, combined with public education and awareness campaigns, would help improve understanding of health insurance and encourage more people to join and make use of available services.
The Deputy Minister also warned NHIF employees against complacency in managing the Fund's resources, stressing the need for accountability and integrity at all levels.
She said every shilling managed by the Fund was ultimately a public resource and should therefore be used efficiently and in accordance with public service ethics.
Dr Samizi directed NHIF management to strengthen systems for measuring the performance of employees and departments while intensifying efforts to prevent corruption, fraud, embezzlement and other forms of misuse of the Fund's resources.
On service delivery, she called for a stronger customer-centred approach, urging NHIF staff to ensure members are treated with respect, provided with accurate information and served promptly.
She also stressed the need for complaints and other challenges raised by members to be resolved quickly, saying responsive service delivery would be critical to building public confidence in the insurance system.
The Government's push for faster implementation places NHIF at the centre of efforts to broaden health insurance coverage and strengthen financial protection for Tanzanians seeking medical care.
For NHIF, the challenge is not only to expand membership but also to ensure that increased coverage translates into accessible, efficient and reliable healthcare services for beneficiaries.