GEITA: TANZANIA Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA) has taken a significant step towards expanding health insurance access in Tanzania by donating 1,093 health insurance cards to Mufti Abubakar Zuberi.
The donation was made during the National Maulid Council event in Geita, in the presence of Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa.
TIRA’s Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Baghayo Saqware announced the donation while addressing the attendees on behalf of the national insurance sector.
He stressed that the recipients of the insurance cards will be entitled to medical services in all hospitals across the country that have contracts with either national insurance schemes or private insurance companies.
“We are honoured to hand over these 1,093 health insurance cards to the Mufti of Tanzania, which include 500 cards from Assemble Insurance and 593 cards from Strategies Insurance. Of these cards, 488 are allocated to men and 605 to women,” Dr Saqware said.
The distribution of the insurance cards is part of an ongoing effort to reach a total of 10,000 cards, as pledged by the Mufti, with the process being managed by the Mufti’s special committee.
Dr Saqware also highlighted the recent legislative progress in the health insurance sector saying President Samia Suluhu Hassan signed the Universal Health Insurance Act, No 23 of 2023 saying under the law, TIRA is tasked with overseeing the sustainability of public health insurance schemes and private companies providing health insurance services.
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“In response, the Mufti of Tanzania requested TIRA to provide guidance as he and his special committee prepared to distribute health insurance cards to 10,000 citizens nationwide,” Dr Saqware explained.
He further assured that TIRA is committed to collaborating with the Mufti’s committee, under the condition that the insurance provided complies with the Insurance Act, Chapter 394 and the Health Insurance Act, no 13 of 2023 and any service-providing institutions must be registered with the regulatory authority and fulfil the required tax obligations.
Dr Saqware also asked the government to establish a national insurance policy to provide comprehensive guidance for all sectors to safeguard human and material resources adding that the importance of insurance coverage is to offer protection and compensation in the event of individual or institutional disasters.
TIRA acknowledged and appreciates the contributions of President Samia and other government leaders in advancing the insurance sector by encouraging Tanzanians to utilise insurance products and services.
The authority also recognizes the role of the ruling party, CCM, in advising the government to improve access to insurance services as outlined in the 2020-2025 election manifesto.
Similarly, Dr Saqware appealed to Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa to direct that government assets be insured to safeguard the resources effectively.
“This initiative will reduce the budget required to replace assets damaged by disasters such as accidents, floods, droughts and severe storms,” he added.
Dr Saqware also extended his gratitude to the Mufti and the insurance companies, Strategies and Assemble, for providing insurance cards that meet the needs of the Mufti’s initiative. Beneficiaries of these cards include people with disabilities.
This effort underscores TIRA’s commitment to enhancing health security and ensuring that more Tanzanians benefit from health insurance coverage.
