National Health Insurance Fund (NHIT) to announce Health Insurance Packages soon.
The fund announced last year that it would launch new health scheme packages that would allow more people to join the health scheme depending on their financial capability.
This scheme is designed by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Angela Mziray, NHIF Public Relations Manager, told the ‘Sunday News’ at the weekend that the process was in an advanced stage and it was expected to be closed this month.
Ms Mziray noted, “This is a huge plan, which will allow more people to join the health insurance scheme, particularly those, who were not able to acquire health services due to limited financial possibilities.”
She further added that the entire process had involved different authorities such as the Ministry of Health, Community Development Gender, Elderly and Children that also gave their views and opinions to improve the packages.
She, however, noted that views from various stakeholders were taken into consideration during planning for the new packages.
This process is now in final stages and we expect it will be closed early or late this month,” Ms Mziray demanded.
Ms Mziray said the introduction of the new packages was in accordance with the government’s intention to boost the health insurance cover to the majority of Tanzanians, who had been missing out on health services.
At a meeting with reporters in Dar es Salaam late last year, NHIF Acting Director General Mbaruku Magawa said the packages would provide a wide range of choices and options and allow Tanzanians to contribute depending on their financial capacity and extend the health insurance coverage.
He explained that the packages had been designed taking into consideration people’s needs, income and treatment cost, adding that the plan was set to take off soon.
“The packages will enable a person to decide whether to join as an individual or include a number of beneficiaries of his/her choice… this is very unfavourable because it broadens the choice of beneficiaries,” he noted.
A report released last year by religious leaders under the umbrella of Interfaith Tanzania, including the Tanzania Episcopal Conference (TEC), Bakwata and the CCT advised that 64 per cent of Tanzanians had no health insurance cover.
Statistics show that 32 per cent of Tanzanians have health insurance cover, 8 per cent are members of NHIF, 23 per cent are members of Community Health Fund (CHF), whereas 1 per cent are members of private health insurance companies.
After NHIF comes up with suggestions it consults other authorities for further improvements.