OPINION: December 12 is upon us and it matters

I recently stumbled on a message from the World Health Organization (WHO) that “no one should have to choose between good health and other life’s necessities…”

Then – coincidentally enough – President John Magufuli just as soon demonstrated how WHO was right by his presidential decision to the effect that good health is way above Independence Day celebrations in terms of preference!

The WHO message is meant for this year’s Universal Health Coverage Day on December 12, an event that comes three days after Tanzania Mainland – formally Tanganyika Trustee Territory – marked uhuru (Freedom-cum-Independence) Day without public celebrations on December 9.

Uhuru is the Swahili word for freedom or independence from extraneous rule or political control, a status which Tanganyika attained from Britain on December 9, 1961.

I would like to sincerely believe that President John Magufuli had it in mind last week that healthcare is one area which needs to be prioritized.

Hence his well-considered decision to redirect the public funds which had been set aside for Independence Day celebrations to the establishment of a new public hospital in the state capital Dodoma, to be named Uhuru Hospital.

Indeed, the president saw it fit to add to, and otherwise upgrade, the city’s health infrastructure to match with the new capital’s growing population and developmental activities.

I am seeing a great similarity between President Magufuli’s decision in the context of uhuru, and the world’s current campaign for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) which aims at freeing poor people from the chains of poverty caused by overly limited health expenditures.

The similarity lies in the fact that it requires tough economic decisions to boost healthcare.

That’s no doubt why this year’s UHC campaign lays emphasis on everyone – including especially top decision-makers in policy and development – joining the crusade.

At the end of it all, we want to have all-embracing healthcare systems whereby every Tanzanian is able to readily access quality health products and services as a matter of course.

Perhaps as the Sisters of Fate would have it, the UHC goals rhyme with President Magufuli’s mantra. T

his is if only because, in most of his speeches, he has unfailingly reiterated his zeal to protect the interests of the underserved (wanyonge) – even as he builds an industrial economy. Truth is, illness has a huge impact on institutional performance. Also, lower life expectancy means that productivity goes down among adults.

But then again, as industrialization gathers pace, Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) become an obstacle to socio-economic development.

Researches have established that countries with weak health and education systems fail to achieve meaningful, sustained econo-growth.

Therefore, the UHC December 12 campaign matters as President Magufuli strives to build a middle-income economy through industrialization, and serve the underserved.

But, much still needs to be done to reach the more than 70 per cent Tanzanians out of the 55 million population who can’t access health insurance.

Most Tanzanians, therefore, pay out of their pockets to access healthcare, thus being exposed to huge cost burdens. This hampers development and perpetuates the disease/poverty trap. In a sense, this also amounts to lack of freedom, independence, uhuru.

There are competing priorities for the nation that include – but are not limited to – reviving the national airline (ATCL); building the standard gauge railway (SGR) and Stiegler’s Gorge hydropower.

Consequently, choices have to be made in the best interest of the country and its people.

Having demonstrated the ability to take bold actions, the president could add impetus to the collective action and pace needed to implement development plans which would drive the economy up and forward.

For starters, it is proposed that a new ‘Single National Health Insurance’ (SNHI) and a ‘Health Financial Strategy’ (HFS) be seriously considered

Looking at the current situation in Tanzania, SNHI and HFS would go far in answering the question: ‘who is covered by health insurance in Tanzania.’

Clearly, there is a lack of equity in health insurance products and services. There are glaring differences among those who are covered – and by what premiums.

At this moment, the poor have their health insurance packages and the rich have theirs – and the benefits vary across all the schemes.

The SNHI is seen as a scheme that would end fragmentation of health insurance in the country, and increase health resources.

It would also provide a minimum benefits package for all, and increase efficiency in health spending.

But, the fear is that the SNHI scheme suffers a significant risk of running a deficit if implemented in a developing country like Tanzania...

But, with careful and prior planning, these risks can be mitigated.