KIGOMA: A total of 11,454 households have been registered under the first phase of Tanzania’s Universal Health Insurance Scheme, targeting low-income households, representing 76 per cent of the target of 15,037 households.
Kigoma Regional Commissioner Ambassador Simon Siro announced the figures while briefing journalists ahead of the launch of the scheme’s second phase in the region, scheduled for October 21, 2026, at Rusimbi Dispensary in Kigoma Ujiji Municipality.
Siro said 33,446 people from the registered households had benefited from the scheme, representing 51 per cent of the 65,755 people initially targeted. He added that registration was continuing to reach the remaining eligible beneficiaries.
Ahead of the second-phase launch, the Regional Commissioner urged residents to register to access healthcare services through the programme. Under the scheme, each household contributes 150,000/- to cover a family of up to six members.
Meanwhile, National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Kigoma Regional Manager, Gwamaka Mwakyoma, said preparations for the second phase were underway ahead of the October 21 launch.
He explained that NHIF had identified and verified 1,264 households comprising 2,028 beneficiaries who were expected to receive their insurance identification cards during the launch.
Mwakyoma said the first phase had served as a pilot programme through which implementation challenges were identified and addressed. He added that the lessons learned would help improve the delivery of services as the scheme expands to reach more residents.
The programme is part of Tanzania’s efforts to expand access to healthcare, particularly among low-income households, by reducing financial barriers to essential medical services.
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