Lyn Frans
Private hospitals have announced their decision to resume offering services to National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) cardholders with immediate effect.
After a temporary suspension of services that commenced on March 1st due to unresolved contractual issues with the fund, several hospitals have reaffirmed their commitment to providing uninterrupted healthcare services to NHIF beneficiaries.
In a statement released by NHIF, hospitals such as Regency Medical Centre, TMJ Hospital, Apollo Hospital, and Bochi Hospital have assured NHIF members of their dedication to maintaining healthcare services. NHIF, in response, has taken steps to address the concerns raised by these private hospitals. Representatives from the fund management visited the hospitals to assess their readiness to resume services for NHIF members.
NHIF expressed satisfaction with the hospitals’ preparedness to reinstate healthcare services following these visits. The importance of adhering to established procedures to ensure continuous service availability for members was emphasized by NHIF. Hospitals that temporarily suspended services were reminded to comply with procedures for a smooth transition back to normal operations.
With the contractual dispute resolved, NHIF has instructed its members to resume accessing medical services at the previously affected hospitals without interruption. NHIF members experiencing any issues during this transition period are advised to contact the Customer Service Centre via the toll-free number 199 for assistance.
This development brings relief to NHIF cardholders who rely on private hospitals for their healthcare needs. The swift resolution of contractual matters highlights the significance of collaboration between healthcare providers and insurance entities in ensuring uninterrupted access to quality medical care for all community members.
Following a speech by the Health Minister regarding affordable pricing and the ministry’s willingness to engage in discussions, TMJ Hospital Limited announced its decision to negotiate with NHIF under the Ministry’s guidance while continuing to serve all NHIF beneficiaries immediately.
Similarly, Bochi Hospital Limited informed its customers and the public of its decision to reverse the suspension of services for NHIF members. The hospital mentioned that patients admitted to the ICU and High Dependency Unit using NHIF cards would continue to receive treatment.
On February 29th, NHIF announced new service packages offered by health facilities starting March 1, 2024. However, some private hospitals rejected these packages and announced the suspension of services for NHIF members. At the beginning of the year, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu addressed concerns and aimed to prevent service disruptions by holding a consultative meeting with auxiliary stakeholders, including representatives from various healthcare provider associations.
At the beginning of the year when the move was being put into motion and private healthcare providers rejected the packages, Health Minister Ummy Mwalimu sought to address the concerns and prevent service disruptions, holding a consultative meeting with auxiliary stakeholders, namely civil society bodies of community health care providers.
Those asked to attend the meeting were representatives from the Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC), the Medical Association of Tanzania (MAT) and the BAKWATA Medical Association affiliated with the nationwide Muslim Supreme Council, as well as the Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA) being in attendance.
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