NHIF members in limbo as dispute on new package rages

Dar es Salaam. Disagreements between private health care providers and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) may hinder NHIF members from receiving treatment at private health facilities.

The two parties issued conflicting statements yesterday regarding the health benefit package for Tanzanians, leaving the community in a controversial situation.

While the NHIF has announced improvements to its health benefit package which are scheduled to take effect on March 1 of this year, operators of private health facilities issued an opposing one, highlighting that discussions between them and the government on the matter have actually failed.

In its statement by the (APHFTA), the Christian Social Service Commission (CSSC), and the National Muslim Council of Tanzania, popularly known by its Kiswahili acronym as Bakwata, reported that discussions with the Ministry of Health, facilitated by a ministry-formed committee, did not yield any agreement.

A source within APHFTA told The Citizen that the new prices are 20 to 30 percent lower than the previous rates.

This, the source said, poses challenges for private health facilities as the cost of drugs and investments has risen alongside the strengthening dollar.

The source noted that profit margins were previously around ten percent, and with the new prices, facilities could face up to a 30 percent loss.

But in the statement signed by its director general, Mr Bernard Konga, the NHIF highlighted that the last improvement to the benefit package occurred eight years ago.

The current revisions aim to enhance access to quality services, expand coverage to include previously excluded services, adjust costs to reflect market realities and technological advancements, and align the package with enhanced treatment guidelines.

But a statement issued APHFTA and which was signed by its chairperson, Dr Egina Makwabe,  expressed concern that the proposed NHIF health benefit package contradicts suggestions made by the Parliament of Tanzania to resolve the issue through reconciliation.

The statement further indicated that private health centres may be unable to provide services to NHIF members under the new package, which does not meet their requirements.

But Mr Konga emphasised that several aspects of the health benefit package have been reviewed and enhanced, including registration fees, consultation fees, medication and diagnostic services, surgical procedures, and costs for regular and specialist clinics.

Responding to concerns raised by private health facilities, Mr Konga stated that NHIF remains open to further discussions before the implementation of the new package on March 1.

“The NHIF acknowledges and values the significant contributions of stakeholders, particularly members and healthcare providers, in realizing the implementation of this new health benefit package. We believe these improvements will drive us closer to the government’s objective of ensuring quality healthcare for all,” he said.