Public remains oblivious about National Health Insurance Fund

It has been revealed that a wider section of the public is ignorant about existence and social benefits of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). This assertion was made on Monday this week by NHIF`s Customer Relations Officer Rehani Athumani when briefing team of parliamentarians who visited its pavilion at the just ended 32nd Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF). To address that weakness, the Fund, in collaboration with the local governments authorities, are planning to conduct nationwide public awareness campaigns up to grassroots level with view to making the Fund much more familiar to all stakeholders. Intended campaigns were mentioned by the officer as a rejoinder to a question asked by the Health and Social Welfare Minister Professor David Mwakyusa relating to Fund`s plans to ensure majority of Tanzanians understand its social and economic role. “It’s true Hon. Minister, we`re facing a challenge of making ourselves better known to the public, and as proposed solution to this problem, plans are underway to ensure intensive awareness campaigns are conducted aimed at educating people about socio-economic benefits of the Fund” he said.

Professor David Mwakyusa, Minister for Health and Social welfare.

Awareness gigs would aim at informing Tanzanians all over the country about services provided by NHIF and beneficiary members are entitled to thereof. According to Rehani, the envisaged awareness campaign would enable the Fund to attain its goal of extending health services to 45 per cent of Tanzanians by 2015. The fund target covering the entire nation with quality and effective health systems and services. Since its effective launch in July 2001 as first attempt towards defined national safety net mechanism, NHIF has been instrumental in reducing public health sector’s funding burden from government’s budgets. Besides healthcare services it is now providing, NHIF also plans to put up two major investments--Medical Centre of Excellence and a modern Diagnostic Center to alleviate people from the distress of having to travel long distances in or outside Tanzania is search of diagnostic services. The centres would be built up in Dodoma, a place considered more strategic based on its central location. According to him, the total investment costs for the two projects and other technical matters are currently on the drawing board and the exact figures will be known latter. Upon their completion, two projects would be leased to competent managers so that the Fund concentrates on its core activities.