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Tanzania has invited investors to explore opportunities in the health sector, with the government saying predictable policies and a secure investment environment provide a basis for increased private sector participation.
Deputy Finance Minister Laurent Luswetula said Tanzania had significant investment opportunities in healthcare and was committed to creating an environment that allows investors and citizens to benefit from such projects.
Speaking on behalf of Finance Minister Khamis Mussa Omar at a high-level Finance Ministers’ Dialogue on strengthening joint investment in health, Mr Luswetula said investors were welcome provided they complied with Tanzanian laws.
“Tanzania has many investment opportunities in the health sector, supported by stable and predictable policies as well as a favourable and secure investment environment,” he said.
“What is required is compliance with the laws of the country so that investment benefits both investors and Tanzanians in general.”
The forum, held at the JW Marriott Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together Finance Ministers from several African countries that have signed memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the US Government on health financing.
Mr Luswetula said discussions focused on ways to increase domestic revenue for health services, fulfil joint financing commitments and establish policies capable of attracting more investment into the sector.
He said Tanzania had made progress in creating conditions for improved access to and delivery of health services, creating further opportunities for private investors to participate in the sector.
The government is also implementing the Universal Health Coverage programme, which Mr Luswetula said was part of efforts to ensure more Tanzanians could access quality healthcare.
He said a broader health insurance system would help improve access to services while enabling citizens to remain productive and contribute more effectively to economic development.
The discussions also explored innovative financing mechanisms and blended financing models that combine different sources of capital to mobilise more resources for the health sector.
The meeting was attended by US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs Erin Browne, as well as government officials and representatives from participating African countries.
The push for greater private investment comes as African governments seek additional financing for healthcare amid pressure to expand access to quality services while strengthening the sustainability of public health systems.