Towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Tanzania

Universal health coverage implies that all people have access, without discrimination, to nationally determined sets of the needed promotive, preventive, curative and rehabilitative basic health services and essential, safe, affordable, effective and quality medicines, while ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the users to financial hardship, with a special emphasis on the poor, vulnerable and marginalized segments of the population” (UN, 2012).

The concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) has evolved gradually throughout the 21st century. Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Right in 1948 stated that: “Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.

The signing of the Alma-Ata declaration in 1978 by the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund and 134-signatory nations was another cornerstone on the road towards UHC. In this declaration the signatories reaffirmed that health was a fundamental right and condemned the gross inequalities in the health status between developed and developing countries. The Alma-Ata declaration demanded for a more horizontal approach focusing on a reinforcement of the health care system which should deliver ‘Health for all’ by the year 2000. The journey at the global level has been further translated into the Millennium development Goals (1990-2015) and Sustainable development Goals (2016-2030).

Tanzania has been making relevant policy and action changes in pushing the UHC agenda. The key dimensions for UHC such as equity, quality and financial-risk protection for health have been targeted by several commitments, reforms and actions. The conference expects to hold discussions and come will deliberations on refining the approaches towards UHC in Tanzania and globally.