DAR ES SALAAM, May 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 463,000 Tanzanians have begun receiving medical services under the government's newly launched Universal Health Insurance program, which aims to provide reliable healthcare access to vulnerable households, a senior official announced Monday.
The initiative, backed by 48.8 billion Tanzanian shillings (about 18.7 million U.S. dollars) in government funding, has already reached 172,297 households nationwide, Minister for Health Mohamed Mchengerwa told parliament in Dodoma when presenting his ministry's budget estimates for the 2026/2027 fiscal year.
To support the rollout, Mchengerwa said, the health sector has expanded its workforce with 14,310 newly registered professionals, adding that 330 pharmacies staffed by 3,004 pharmacists and 3,643 health service centers have been accredited, bringing services closer to communities.
Mchengerwa emphasized that 654 private health centers have been inspected to ensure compliance with standards and ethical practices, ensuring safe care as coverage widens.
He noted that these achievements mark significant progress in building a resilient health system focused on equity, quality, and accessibility.
The Universal Health Insurance program, he added, stands as a cornerstone of Tanzania's broader social and economic development agenda. ■