Health Sector Reform Support Program (Health Basket)

Tanzania has made significant progresses in public health indicators over the past decade. However, the health system is still facing major bottlenecks in service delivery due mainly to shortage of human resources and lack of coordination among layers of government. Delivery of quality health care and services in rural areas remain a significant challenge. Launched in 1994, Health Sector Reforms (HSR) aim at a providing better health services through financial reforms, public/private partnership and decentralization. Since June 1998, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) and Development Partners (DPs) have been pursuing a sector-wide approach (SWAp) to health sector reform. The SWAp aims at increasing coordination among donors and government, supporting one health sector programme. The Health Basket Fund (HBF), which was created in 1999, is the funding modality of the SWAp. Currently 10 Development Partners contribute financially to the HSR through the HBF.

The overall goal of the program is to improve the health status of the population in Tanzania by complementing the government funding for the health sector, in line with the National Health Policy, achieving the objectives of the National Strategy for Growth and Poverty Reduction (MKUKUTA), the Millennium Development Goals, and targets of the Health Sector Strategic Plan III. The Health Basket Fund aims to promote the principles of the Sector-Wide Approach in health.

The final beneficiaries are the people of Tanzania. The HBF focuses on complementing government funding to health services, whereby priority is given to basic health services provided by the Local Government Authorities (LGAs).

The overall objective is to improve equitable access, utilization of quality health services and improved financing through increased efficiency and effectiveness in allocation and use of resources.

Resultados previstos:  

• Decentralization: Increased HBF allocation to the districts and improve coordination between ministries in charge.
• Financial management and reporting on the Health Basket Fund strengthened
• Policy dialogue: Greater coordination among Development Partners and with the GoT

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

• Significant progresses in health indicators such as reduction of infant mortality 54/1000 (2007) to 51 (2010)
• Health planning and management have been strenghtened both at the council and central levels.
• Greater harmonization and division of labor in DPs interventions in the health sector.

Prime Minister’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PMO-RALG).

Development Partners: CIDA-Canada, The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany (KfW), Irish Aid, NORAD, UNICEF, UNFPA, World Bank

• Health Promotion and System Strengthening (HPSS)
• Ifakara Health Institute (IHI)
• St. Francis Regional Hospital
• Baobab Maternity Hospital

Fase 6 01.10.2012 - 31.12.2015   (Completed)