Africa-Press – Tanzania. A TOTAL of 2,344,747 elders countrywide have been identified so that they can start benefiting from free medical services. Deputy Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, elderly and children, Dr Godwin Mollel said the number is almost 87 per cent of the elderly countrywide.
Dr Mollel revealed the new development here in Parliament when responding to a question by Shamsia Mtamba (Mtwara Rural CCM) who wanted to know when the government will provide the elderly with health insurance cover, including registering them with Community Health Fund (CHF).
Dr Mollel said the government is keen to ensure elders receive proper medical treatment since it is among the basic human rights. Following the new development, the government decided to carry out a kind of survey countrywide to identify and register elderly who qualify for the free medical services and provide them with identity cards.
He said as of March this year, the government had enrolled 2,344,747 elders which is equivalent to 87 per cent who are going to benefit from the medical services through a special window in hospitals meant to serve them.
Of the number, Dr Mollel said, 1,092,310 are men and 1,252,437 women whereas out of the number, 856,052 are elders who cannot afford to pay for their medical treatment, prompting the government to give them Improved Community Health Fund (CHF) cards.
The Deputy Minister said the government is finalising a bill for universal insurance coverage so that the public, including the elders, despite of their financial status, can access the services.
