Health Promotion and System Strengthening

Tanzania focuses on industrialization as a strategy for increasing economic growth and a pathway to reaching middle income status by 2025. The government is undertaking reforms in the public sector to drive industrialization and increase tax revenues to co-finance basic social services delivery. The health sector is engaged in various reforms in order to achieve Universal Health Coverage as called for by the Sustainable Development Goals and the “Tanzania Development Vision 2025”. The health sector indicators for under five and infant mortality have improved but with little progress on neonatal and maternal mortality that have not shown progress. Life expectancy at birth has also improved. The sector is however faced with the challenges of the disease burden due to the increase of Non-Communicable Diseases, shortage of human resources for health, late and partial disbursements of the health budget to mention a few. 

The Health financing strategy identifies a Single National Health Insurance as the primary resource mobilization strategy for the health sector. It is expected that the mandatory single national health insurance will increase the number of people with health insurance. However, the availability of quality services and the definition of a minimum benefit package will determine effective uptake of any insurance scheme.

Two innovations of the Health Promotion and System Strengthening project (HPSS) in health financing and medicines supply developed during phase 2, namely the improved Community Health Fund and the Jazia Prime Vendor, have been adopted as national strategies by the health sector. The ongoing Mid Term Review of the Health Sector Strategic Plan IV and the Health Basket Fund Performance-based financing findings and recommendations will be used to guide future policy dialogue with the government.

1. Improved Community Health Fund, Jazia Prime Vendor System, openMEDIS and Community Participatory Health Promotion are nationally implemented through provision of technical assistance
2. Enhanced institutional efficiency of delivering improved Community Health Fund, Jazia Prime Vendor System, openMEDIS and health promotion is effective through integrated digitalization solutions.
   
3. Policy decisions of the government are informed by evidence based capitalization and research.

Expected results:  

• The GoT has in place the required structures, staff capacity, tools and procedures for effectively implementing and managing improve CHF, Jazia Prime Vendor System, openMEDIS and participatory health promotion.
• Support is provided to developing and implementing digitalization solutions for openIMIS, openMEDIS, Jazia PVS and in health promotion supervision tools and  integration with key IT systems.
  
• Evidence base is created through research and analysis of best practices and knowledge gaps to inform policy and future adaptations in the fields of iCHF development, Jazia PVS, health technology management and health promotion.

Results from previous phases:  

• Rolled out nationally improved Community Health Funds and the Jazia Prime Vendor.
• Built capacity of 23 district council officials on the management and implementation of the improved Community Health Fund and Jazia Prime vendor.
  
• Improved availability of 10 tracer medicines at the health facilities from 53.7% to 94%.
  
• Developed and fully operated an open source software (openMEDIS) for managing the maintenance and repair of medical equipment, providing both the health facilities and the Local Government Authorities with an overview on operational status, need for repair and required spare parts for all health facilities in the governmental system.
  
• Established a functioning multi-sectoral health promotion coordination mechanisms at regional, district, community, health facilities and school levels for implementation, supportive supervision and monitoring of health promotion interventions and activities.

• Health Basket Fund
• Good Financial Governance
• P4H (Program Global Health)
• SNF Research for Development (R4D) Initiative
• Development Partners in health

Phase 3 01.11.2019 - 31.10.2023   (Active)