The government is targeting 25 million beneficiaries under the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) scheme by June 2027, as it seeks to expand access to healthcare and reduce the financial burden of medical expenses on households.
Health Minister Mohamed Mchengerwa announced the target on Thursday, November 5, 2026, during a parliamentary seminar on the implementation of the second phase of the UHI programme in Dodoma.
He said the second phase, which began on October 22, was designed to expand insurance coverage by bringing more households into the scheme, with those able to pay expected to finance their own premiums while the government covers vulnerable groups.
The approach places responsibility on individuals and families with the financial capacity to contribute, while maintaining public support for citizens who cannot afford health insurance.
Under the arrangement, the government has introduced the Fahari Afya package, priced at TZS150,000 annually for a household of up to six people.
Mr Mchengerwa said the package would enable members to access medical services from dispensaries to the National Hospital, subject to the established referral procedures.
"The government has introduced the Fahari Afya health insurance package at a cost of TZS150,000 for a household of no more than six people," he said.
He clarified that universal health insurance did not mean providing free coverage to every citizen, explaining that people with the means would be required to contribute towards their own insurance and that of their families.
The government, he said, would continue financing insurance coverage for people who cannot afford the premiums.
The distinction highlights the financing model underpinning the scheme, which seeks to widen access to healthcare while ensuring that the cost of treatment does not exclude vulnerable households from essential medical services.
Mr Mchengerwa urged MPs to take an active role in educating their constituents about the scheme, saying public awareness and cooperation among leaders at all levels of government would be important in achieving the enrolment target.
The government is seeking to make health insurance a broader mechanism for protecting families against the financial risks associated with illness, rather than leaving households to meet medical costs entirely from their own resources.
The initiative is part of the Sixth Phase Government's efforts, under President Samia Suluhu Hassan, to improve healthcare access and strengthen financial protection.
Achieving the target of 25 million beneficiaries by June 2027 will depend on effective public education, sustained government financing and the ability to bring more households into the insurance system.