Speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam yesterday, leaders of the Tanzania Constitution Forum (TCF) and a group of good governance campaigners (UTG) asked the government to take up the challenge and find robust ways to address the root causes.
Bob Wangwe, the TCF chairman, appealed to the government to come up with a lasting solution to the challenge “which includes dismissing the NHIF board of directors for failing to manage the fund.”
He urged the government not to use much force in addressing the challenge but rather sit down calmly with the service providers, to avoid impacting health services delivery.
He said that m claims raised by private hospitals have a grain of truth and that the new package rolled out by NHIF relating to various charges were unfair to private entities, “so being overly aggressive on the issue will only end up affecting the lives of people.”
“Being too harsh to the private hospitals forcing them to provide quality services at a cost that is not appropriate with the service, means that either the patient will have to pay additional funds or be suhjected to inadequate care,: he said,
“What is going on isn’t healthy at all and we urge the government to think on this matter wisely,” he emphasized, while Godlisten Malisa, the UTG chairman, said that it is better for the government to suspend the new NHIF package “as allowing it to continue will greatly affect health provision in the country.”
“It is better for the committee to review the new package and closely engage stakeholders including experts from the ministry, NHIF, public and private hospitals as well as members of the fund in order to come up with a package which will be fair for all,” he elaborated.
He similarly appealed to the government to ensure that all the funds taken from NHIF as loans are repaid.
He also demanded that the government to take stern measures on public officials cited in the report of the Controller and Auditor General (CAG) last year over embezzlement within NHIF.
The 146 officials listed by the CAG over embezzlement of 14bn/- should be punished, including sending them to court, he further stated.
The activist also wanted the government to cover operational costs of the fund in order to ensure that the funds collected are used to cover treatment services and not misdirected.
UTG activists similarly want the formation of an NHIF members’ council which will involve representatives from those imsured with the fund, to monitor service provision and ensure the funds are properly spent.
The opposition ACT Wazalendo urged the government to address the ongoing dispute between NHIF and the Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA) to restore provision of quality health services.
Its Health shadow minister, Dr Elizabeth Sanga asked NHIF to stop the new packages, revisit the universal health insurance law for it does not remove the problem of financing and sustainability, “does not save NHIF nor help provide relief to the people.”
Meanwhile, NHIF delegation on Saturday visited the Regency Medical Centre in Dar es Salaam and talked with the management where they agreed that the hospital provides services while other issues are being addressed.
Led by NHIF director general Bernard Konga, the delegation arrived at the hospital to inspect how services for NHIF members are progressing at the hospital.
He apologized to NHIF members for the inconvenience they experienced, assuring them that they have already spoken to the hospital management and assured them that services will be maintained.
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