Joseph Isangura
More Tanzanians are enrolling in health insurance schemes. As of July 2025, 37 percent of the population is now insured, according to a new update from the Tanzania Insurance Regulatory Authority (TIRA).
The figures were shared on July 8 during the 49th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair (DITF) by Dr Baghayo Saqware, the Commissioner of Insurance. He attributed the growth to a mix of regulatory reforms, rising awareness, and broader rollout of the government’s Universal Health Insurance (UHI) programme.
“We’re progressing well,” Dr Saqware said. “With UHI and other services now reaching more areas, we believe we will meet the national goals set for 2030.”
Dr Saqware also reported that insurance now contributes 2.0 percent to Tanzania’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP)—up from less than 1 percent a few years ago. The target is to reach 3 percent by the year 2030, as outlined in the Financial Sector Development Master Plan (2020–2030).
This roadmap for the country’s financial industry aims to increase access to insurance products for both urban and rural communities. By 2030, the plan expects at least 50 percent of Tanzanian adults to have some form of coverage.
Several developments are contributing to the sector’s growth:
- Stronger policy and regulatory reforms improving trust and efficiency in the system;
- Government-led expansion of UHI, allowing low-income families to access healthcare affordably;
- Integration of mobile technology in insurance, enabling people to register and make payments using their phones;
- Public awareness campaigns explaining the benefits of coverage and countering long-standing myths about insurance.
Insurance penetration—the ratio of premiums to GDP—has climbed to 15 percent, and the trend is expected to continue. New products are also emerging, including crop insurance for farmers, microinsurance for informal workers, and life and disability coverage tailored for low-income households.
Also Read; British, Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights After Strikes
The road to universal access is not without challenges. Key issues include:
- Affordability for rural and marginalized communities;
- Limited health infrastructure in remote areas;
- The need for more public-private partnerships to expand service delivery.
Still, experts say the strong policy framework, technological integration, and community-level outreach provide a firm foundation for Tanzania to meet its health insurance and financial inclusion goals.
“We need to ensure that insurance is no longer viewed as a product for the elite,” said a local health economist. “It must become a basic right and reality for every citizen.”
