Joseph Isangura
The Aga Khan Foundation has announced its decision to terminate its contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) at 11 of its 24 healthcare centers across Tanzania, effective August 14, 2024. This decision comes amidst ongoing operational challenges, particularly concerning the low reimbursement rates that NHIF has been providing for surgical procedures.
The termination will impact major healthcare centers, including the Aga Khan Hospital in Dar es Salaam, along with clinics in Mbezi Beach, Masaki, Kigamboni, Geita, and Arusha. These facilities have been crucial in delivering high-quality medical services, and their exit from the NHIF network is expected to create significant inconvenience for NHIF members who depend on these centers for their healthcare needs.
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In a statement issued on August 7, 2024, and signed by Hipoliti Lello on behalf of the Director General, NHIF informed its members of the impending suspension of services at the affected Aga Khan centers. The statement urged members to seek services from alternative healthcare providers during the ongoing negotiations with the Aga Khan Foundation.
Despite the suspension at these 11 centers, NHIF clarified that the remaining 13 Aga Khan centers, including those in Tabata, Kibaha, Morogoro, and Mwanza, will continue to offer services. This measure aims to reduce the disruption for NHIF members, although the loss of access to key facilities will likely place additional pressure on the healthcare system.
The ongoing negotiations between NHIF and the Aga Khan Foundation are critical in determining whether these centers will be reinstated into the NHIF network or if the suspension will become permanent. The situation underscores broader issues within the NHIF, particularly its reimbursement policies, which have frequently been a point of contention for private healthcare providers.
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