Tanzania is embarking on health financing and primary health care (PHC) reforms that will have important implications for progress toward universal health coverage. The government is developing a new health financing strategy to enable access to financial protection as well as affordable and cost-effective quality health care. To address current fragmented and low insurance coverage, the government is also developing a new single national health insurance scheme with the goal of reducing out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPS). Tanzania has elevated PHC as a strategic priority in both the health sector plan and greater development vision. Though key health indicators have improved over time maternal mortality remains a significant challenge—and the government has recognized strengthening PHC systems as a means to address that.
In order to realize the overarching health and development vision, it is important that Tanzania include PHC centered reforms in the new financing strategy and health insurance system.