PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has directed public institutions in the health sector to take early precautions, assess health risks and be prepared for emergencies when they occur.

Launching an evaluation report on the implementation of the universal health coverage and emergency preparedness in Dar es Salaam yesterday, he appealed to government departments and agencies to oversee the implementation of the universal health insurance law to ensure that everyone has access to healthcare services.

This determination is part of fulfilling the global resolutions made in 2020 regarding health emergencies, he said, noting that during the COVID-19 emergency, each country learned a lot from the situation as it affected society and the economy as a whole.

This was the reason the World Health Organization (WHO), at its 73rd annual meeting at the time, urged member countries to voluntarily prepare for health emergencies, he stated, underlining the need for the President’s Office--Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG) to prepare distinct allocation needs for such situations.

They must list priority activities and submit them to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to provide a work plan and requirements to be included in the 2025/26 national budget, he said.

He similarly demanded the strengthening of cooperation between private and public institutions to obtain policy feedback, resolve existing challenges and find solutions to bottlenecks arising in taking up universal coverage policy.

The Ministry of Health needs to consult and encourage investments to identify disease pathogens, he said, underlining that public institutions need to ensure that health services are well delivered.

Estimates need to be prepared and allocated for disaster response, he said, stressing that the challenges identified in the current evaluation will be addressed by the government, including the financing aspect.

For the nation to succeed, the people must be healthy, he said, highlighting this as both a national and global lesson from the pandemic, pushing collaboration to implement various United Nations (UN) strategies.

“The feedback gathered in this evaluation comes from stakeholders and friendly countries,” he asserted, while Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said that Tanzania has been at the forefront in handling health emergencies successfully.

Universal health policy review will enhance cooperation with development partners, he said, inviting to the position Dr Faustine Ndugulile, a former Health deputy minister picked for the position of WHO regional director.

“I can say that Tanzania is a country of success for me. It is a teaching country, you have invested, protected yourselves, and are becoming the first country in various areas, completing necessary evaluations,” the outgoing director intoned.

Dr Erasto Silvanus, the Health ministry director of emergency and disaster services said that the initiative waso initiated in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure quality healthcare services with proper guidelines.

Jenista Mhagama, the minister, said that health is a crucial issue for community welfare and national security, with current goals focused on improving telemedicine services to widen access to quality medication.

The government allocated 173bn/- this financial year for implementing universal health coverage, including treating the 26 percent of Tanzanians who cannot afford to join the system.

“For three consecutive years, health services have continued to improve, with specialized services now available in most regions. Medical equipment has increased, with digital X-rays available nationwide, the number of CT scans rising from four to 40, and ultrasounds reaching about 400,” the minister underlined.