DAR ES SALAAM: MWALIMU Julius Nyerere’s vision of ensuring equitable access to healthcare for all Tanzanians continues to advance under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s administration, with Universal Health Insurance (UHI) marking a major step towards removing financial barriers to medical treatment.
As Tanzania marks the 27th anniversary of the death of the founding father of the nation, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, today, his declaration of war against disease remains relevant as the country continues to address gaps in healthcare access, improve service delivery and ensure that the benefits of development reach every household.
The introduction of UHI, together with the expansion of health facilities, specialised medical services and investment in modern medical equipment, reflects the sixth phase government’s commitment to advancing the founding president’s vision of healthcare for all.
Mwalimu Nyerere, who died on October 14, 1999, placed the fight against disease alongside poverty and ignorance at the centre of Tanzania’s development agenda, recognising access to healthcare as essential to improving people’s welfare and building a productive nation.
Following independence in 1961, his administration prioritised the expansion of healthcare services to underserved communities, particularly rural areas where access to medical facilities remained limited.
The Arusha Declaration of 1967 further reinforced the principles of equality and social justice, laying the foundation for policies aimed at ensuring that essential services, including healthcare, reached ordinary Tanzanians.
Mwalimu Nyerere’s commitment to equality, as reflected in the principles of the Arusha Declaration, emphasised equal access to basic social services for all citizens.
This vision remains relevant to Tanzania’s efforts to expand healthcare access and protect citizens from financial barriers to medical treatment.
Nearly six decades later, President Dr Samia’s administration is advancing the same broad objective through UHI, which seeks to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent citizens from receiving medical treatment.
The Universal Health Insurance Act, enacted in 2023, paved the way for the scheme’s implementation, which officially began on January 26, 2026, with priority given to vulnerable and low-income households.
The initiative marks a significant shift towards reducing direct payments by patients while strengthening financial protection against healthcare costs.
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Beyond insurance coverage, the sixth phase government has expanded healthcare infrastructure across the country, bringing medical services closer to communities.
According to figures presented by Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa in May this year, the number of health service delivery facilities increased from 10,153 in 2021/22 to 13,683 by March 2026.
The expansion includes additional dispensaries, health centres and hospitals, alongside investments in diagnostic equipment, maternal and child healthcare and specialised treatment services.
These developments build on the foundation established during Mwalimu Nyerere’s leadership, when expanding primary healthcare services to rural communities became a central national priority.
However, the government has emphasised that expanding infrastructure and insurance membership alone is insufficient unless citizens can access timely, quality treatment.
Speaking during a joint meeting of ministers and Regional Commissioners (RCs) in Dar es Salaam on Monday, Mr Mchengerwa directed regional leaders to take direct responsibility for implementing UHI, stressing that its success will be measured by actual service delivery rather than registration figures.
“Success is not having many members on the register, but enabling them to receive treatment through their insurance,” he said.
The minister instructed RCs to strengthen supervision, ensure health facilities are ready to provide services, improve medicine availability and promptly resolve complaints from insurance members.
“You can delegate tasks, but you cannot delegate responsibility,” he said, emphasising the need for regional authorities to ensure eligible members receive services covered by their insurance packages.
He also warned health facilities against denying treatment to patients without insurance, stressing that efforts to reduce direct healthcare payments must not undermine access to essential services.
The directive reinforces the broader principle underlying Mwalimu Nyerere’s healthcare philosophy: access to medical treatment should not depend solely on an individual’s financial circumstances.
Mr Mchengerwa also instructed health facilities to collaborate with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to address shortages of medicines covered by insurance packages.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Grace Magembe, assured citizens that referral procedures under UHI will not prevent patients from receiving appropriate treatment, particularly during emergencies.
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