The Zanzibar Ministry of Health will introduce performance-based assessments for health workers, placing greater emphasis on the quality of healthcare services rather than infrastructure development.
The initiative follows significant government investments in health facilities, medical equipment, and healthcare financing to strengthen service delivery throughout the islands.
The announcement was made by the Permanent Secretary in the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, Dr. Mngereza Mzee Miraji, during a meeting held to review progress and establish priorities for improving healthcare services. The forum, jointly organized by the ministry and PharmAccess, brought together healthcare leaders and stakeholders from across Zanzibar.
“From now on, we will no longer be judged by the number of hospitals we have built, but by the quality of services delivered within those facilities,” said Dr Miraji.
“The next step is to stop blaming one another. If we want change, we cannot continue doing the same things and expect different results. We must all agree that quality is now our priority and commit ourselves to enforcing it,” he added.
Dr. Miraji stated that, the ministry would no longer accept poor performance from health workers. The performance-based approach will be implemented throughout the healthcare system, including dispensaries, health centres, district hospitals, regional hospitals, and referral hospitals.
He said that as Zanzibar advances toward health goals, all departments and directorates must align their plans with five strategic priorities, with improving healthcare quality and enhancing patient safety as the primary focus.
Dr. Miraji also emphasized the need to strengthen the referral system connecting primary healthcare facilities with district, regional, and referral hospitals, noting that quality healthcare starts at the community level.
“We will no longer accept explanations for maternal health complications because no information was available. We already have a community health system through which referrals can be made, and community health workers are performing their responsibilities. We therefore do not expect pregnant women to develop complications because information failed to reach the appropriate level,” he said.
Dr. Miraji identified accountability and performance management as a key priority, urging health workers and managers to prioritize measurable outcomes.
“Whether you are a nurse, a midwife, or any other healthcare professional, your duty is to report to work every morning and serve the people, not spend your time engaging in idle talk,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary also urged officials to make decisions based on reliable data rather than assumptions, warning that poor decision-making could negatively affect service delivery and overall performance.
Dr. Faiza Abasi, Project Manager at Pharm Access, said the organization has been partnering with the Zanzibar Ministry of Health to enhance the quality of healthcare services across all levels of the healthcare system, including dispensaries, health centres, district hospitals, regional hospitals, and referral hospitals.
“Through this partnership, our goal is to ensure that healthcare services provided in all facilities meet recognised quality standards,” she said.
Dr Abasi said the partnership had developed a framework for assessing healthcare quality across the sector.
“We measure quality using a five-level rating system, similar to hotel classifications. Health facilities are assessed against these standards. However, no facility in Zanzibar has yet attained Level Five, with most currently rated between Levels One and Three,” she said.