THE National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is working with the President’s Office - Regional Administration and Local Governments (PO-RALG) to identify and provide insurance to low-income households, the insurance outfit has declared.

James Mlowe, the NHIF public relations manager, outlined these plans during a visit to The Guardian Ltd at Mikocheni in Dar es Salaam yesterday, affirming that the fund is targeting upwards of 1.2m poor households, a portion of the public that the government has already started to insure.

This effort is part of implementing universal health insurance legislation, upon which NHIF has announced ambitious plans to ensure that the vast majority of the people have access to healthcare through insurance.

This includes reaching every low-income household and enabling online registration for new members, he said, eliciting support for this initiative, as The Guardian Ltd promised to work closely with the fund to raise public awareness on the benefits of health insurance.

Members of poor households will be covered and access healthcare services at over 10,000 facilities nationwide that are contracted with the fund, he said, affirming that registered users receive a digital membership card, “which they can begin using immediately after payment is completed.”

“If you register online and make your payment, you receive your digital card straight away. You can also add dependents. These digital systems are designed to streamline services and reduce the need for in-person visits to NHIF offices,” he explained.

People working in the informal sector—such as motorcycle taxi operators, street traders and food vendors—can enrol in the scheme at any time and benefit from medical services.

“Members also have the option of paying in instalments. Once payment is complete, they receive their digital card. This flexibility is intended to make the service more accessible, as many Tanzanians cannot afford to pay for treatment out-of-pocket when they fall ill,” he stated.

An estimated 85percent of Tanzanians do not have health insurance, which places them at risk of avoidable deaths from treatable conditions and lack of funds for adequate medical care, he stated.

NHIF members can also use their national ID cards to access services if they forget their insurance card apart from the digital card facility, he said, while Jackson Paulo, the TGL deputy general manager, pledged that the sister newspapers would play an active role in educating the public on the matter.

Health is a major editorial focus for the company due to its profound impact on communities, he stated, elaborating that “health is an issue we treat with the utmost seriousness—not only because it affects society at large, but also because it touches our own lives and those of our families.

“I assure you, it is our responsibility to inform and educate the public, and we will approach this health insurance awareness campaign with humanity and care,” he added.