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dc.contributor.authorMori, Amani Thomas
dc.date.accessioned2024-08-05T08:44:26Z
dc.date.available2024-08-05T08:44:26Z
dc.date.created2024-02-16T09:00:58Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.identifier.issn2813-0146
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11250/3144373
dc.description.abstractMany countries in sub-Saharan Africa are struggling to expand voluntary health insurance schemes to raise finances toward achieving universal health coverage. With more than three-quarters of the population without any insurance, the government of Tanzania has unsuccessfully tried to pass a Bill proposing a mandatory, nationwide scheme to cover the large and diverse informal sector. The Bill proposed an annual premium of ∼150 USD for a household of six or 65 USD per person. Studies in Tanzania and Kenya have shown that the majority of people in the informal sector are unwilling and unable to pay premiums as low as 4 USD, mostly due to poverty. Mandatory health insurance for the informal sector is not common in this region, mostly because it is difficult to enforce. Successful insurance schemes have included significant subsidies from tax revenues. Tanzania should not seek to raise funds for health through an unenforceable insurance scheme but rather should consider a largely tax-funded scheme for the informal sector. Contributions through low-cost voluntary schemes can enhance social contracts, reduce out-of-pocket expenditure, and promote efficient utilization. In addition, progressive health taxes should be imposed on harmful products (tobacco, alcohol, sugary drinks, etc.) to raise more funds while addressing the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. Furthermore, efficiency in the use of scarce health resources should be promoted through realistic prioritization of public services, the use of Health Technology Assessment, and strategic purchasing.en_US
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherFrontiersen_US
dc.rightsNavngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.no*
dc.titleMandatory health insurance for the informal sector in Tanzania—has it worked anywhere!en_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typePeer revieweden_US
dc.description.versionpublishedVersionen_US
dc.rights.holderCopyright 2023 The Author(s)en_US
dc.source.articlenumber1247301en_US
cristin.ispublishedtrue
cristin.fulltextoriginal
cristin.qualitycode1
dc.identifier.doi10.3389/frhs.2023.1247301
dc.identifier.cristin2246632
dc.source.journalFrontiers in Health Servicesen_US
dc.identifier.citationFrontiers in Health Services. 2023, 3, 1247301.en_US
dc.source.volume3en_US


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Navngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Navngivelse 4.0 Internasjonal