Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE first phase of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) for vulnerable households will officially take off countrywide on January 26 this year, following the approval of the Essential Benefits Package that will be fully financed by the state..
Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa announced the rollout yesterday in Dodoma during a high-level working session with sector leaders reviewing progress in the implementation of the UHI.
He said 1,457,602 individuals, equivalent to 276,004 vulnerable households, will be registered in the initial phase and their coverage paid for entirely by the government. The beneficiaries include the elderly, children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.
Citing Section 13 of the Universal Health Insurance Act, Cap 161, and Regulation 31(4) of the 2024 UHIS Regulations, the minister said the law empowers him to publicly declare the Essential Benefits Package that all insurance schemes must offer.
“Pursuant to these legal provisions, I hereby announce that the first phase of implementation will target vulnerable households that will be fully supported by the government,” he said.
Mr Mchengerwa said the cost of the Essential Benefits Package is 150,000/- per household of up to six members. It will cover the main contributor, their spouse and up to four dependants, including parents, biological or adopted children under 21, stepchildren or close relatives under the same age.
He said the package will be accessed through the established referral system in health facilities that sign service agreements with the insurance schemes. A comprehensive list of covered services, he added, will accompany the official government notice.
“With this announcement, I declare that the Essential Benefits Package for the first phase of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme will become operational on January 26, 2026, for the government-financed group,” he said.
The minister also directed regional and local government authorities to expedite the identification of vulnerable households eligible for coverage, working closely with community verification structures.
