The joint statement of the Private Health Sector at the Launching of the Health Sector Strategic Plan III HSSP





Your Excellency, The President of the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete



The Private health in Tanzania which include Faith Based Organization (FBOs), Non Governmental Organizations (NGO) and purely Private institutions have for many years, and indeed, long before independence, contributed to the development of health systems in Tanzania. From the remote rural communities to town and major cities in the country, private sector has been working tirelessly hand in hand with the government to improve the health status of the communities, and at the same time driving the nation towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) health agenda. All this would not have been possible without the government’s recognition of the sectors’ contribution to health care services in Tanzania by providing the conducive environment for the private health sector to operate, complementing the government’s efforts to deliver accessible, affordable and quality health care close to where its citizens live.  



Public Private Partnership (PPP) is now a universally accepted operational framework in service delivery, aiming at hastening development in all service delivery sectors. The success of PPP in health has been witnessed in many countries in the world, and Tanzania is tapping on these experience to increase the pace of health sector development, spear headed by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. The involvement of the private health sector in health care delivery has potentials of providing leverage to speedy achievement of the Primary Health Services Development Programme (in Kiswahili MMAM) to the eagerly awaiting communities in Tanzania. The small Private drug store with a single service provider, the dispensary, the health center, the big hospital, the multi-national health insurance company, the NGO working with rural community and those doing policy and budget analysis on health issues, each and every one of these has a role to play if MMAM is to be successfully implemented and the MDGs achieved. Human resource for health is necessary for the success of MMAM.The Government has been tapping the Human Resource for Health Production capacity by the private sector. There should be more support to the private training institutions in order to achieve the number of required trained staff necessary to achieve MMAM. Investments in Health care infrastructure development and the experiences gained in service provision by the private health sector should all be utilized by the government through PPP for timely achievement of the MDG and MKUKUTA health agenda.



Your Excellency, your Government’s commitment to PPP in health is entrenched throughout the third Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSP III) document. This is strengthened in Strategy Six of HSSP III which is fully dedicated to PPP.During the whole process of developing the HSSP III document, the private health sector was fully involved; participating in all the preparatory brainstorming sessions and draft writing retreats. The document reflects the Government’s commitment to work hand in hand with private health sector in moving forward the nation’s development agenda.Operationazation of this commitment will motivate the private health sector to invest more in health care and explore further better methods of improving the quality of health care delivery to Tanzania community, with the sense ownership and partnership in implementation of the strategy. Indeed, the theme “Partnership for Delivery the MDGs” is a true indication of the commitment of the government, the private health sector and the development partners to work together with common goal of improving health care delivery to “Wananchi”.   



The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Private health sector realized the need to strengthen PPP in health. To create a driving force towards achieving this, a National Steering Committee (NPPPSC) was formed, with members representing the Government (MoHSW, PMORALG), FBOs Purely Private Sector, CSOs. And DPs.One of the SWAp milestones for 2008/09 is to set up a secretariat for PPP.The NPPPSC is already in the process of finalizing its strategic plan and is seeking funds to establish the secretariat. The committee has also helped to develop and roll out a Service Agreement that will be used to promote PPP in health care. It will enable the Government to go into contractual service agreement with private healthcare providers for the latter to provide health service on behalf of the Government. Several agreements have already been signed, and are proving to be a success. It is expected that if promoted this can contribute significantly in the reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortalities.  



In view of all this, the private health sector fully appreciates your government’s commitment to PPP and improvement to healthcare in the country. The Nation understood this a fortnight ago during your speech to the Parliament and Elders of Dodoma on the current economic situation, with your government’s commitment to keep the Private Sector in the country intact. This was echoed a few days later by your government’s decision to continue providing a tax free environment for NGOs and FBOs, with respect to their contribution to the national development in various sectors, and in particular the health sector. Your Excellency, we would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and your government for the timely intervention taken to save the operations of the private sector in service in service delivery, especially in healthcare.



Your Excellency, to achieve equitable, affordable and quality healthcare to all in the community we have address the challenges facing providers as pointed out in the report of the External Evaluation of Health Sector 2007.These include increase in human resource for health production, establishing a conducive working schemes to all providers to retain health  workers within our borders, tax relief for health providers of all sectors equally without discrimination (for all serve the same communities of Tanzania), and support to the private providers to enable them get organized to achieve a consolidated bargaining power at all levels. Currently the private sector collaborate fully with the MoH&SW in primary health care, most vertical programmes such as Reproductive Health, vaccinations, HIV/AIDS treatment and care, TB and Leprosy treatment and others. Private sector is also becoming more involved in preventive health care. In order to improve the private sector’s participation in the provision of health services and to make services affordable and accessible to more people, we humbly request the Government to extend tax exemptions to the private sector in the procurement of essential means of Transport for health services as is being provided to pharmaceutical and medical equipment.



Your Excellency Mr. President, the Private health Sector is dedicated to working with your government in the implementation of Health Sector Strategic Plan III.



Your Excellency, thank you for listening to us.