The management of electronic records in Tanzania: a case study of the National Health Insurance Fund, Dar es Salaam.

Tanzania has realized the crucial role electronic records plans in the management of vital records in all spheres. However, the efficacy of the systems being used in many institutions has not been established to determine which areas need improvement to improve the electronic records management mechanisms being employed. This is the knowledge gap that this study sought to bridge. The study examined the management of electronic records at the National Health Insurance Fund in Dar es Salaam as a case study. The study identified the types of electronic records available at the NHIF, examined how they are managed, the challenges encountered in their management, and solicited ways of overcoming the challenges identified so as to improve the scheme and enhance NHIF beneficiary satisfaction. The study used questionnaires, face- to- face interviews and observations to collect the necessary information Fifty-seven (57). Cluster and purposively selected respondents participated in this study. The study findings reveal that the management of electronic records at the National Health Insurance Fund is constrained by factors such as lack of financial resources, lack of trained personnel, lack of ICT plan/policy, lack of initiative and lack of knowledge on the role of ICT in development and its potential benefits. The study recommends that the NHIF should prepare an ICT policy/plan to guide the management of electronic records and its other functions. It should also mobilise adequate financial resources from donors, government and the local private sector to support its management of electronic records, plan and staff training and purchase of hardware and software applications. Moreover, the NHIF should liaise with other government sectors so as to learn from their experiences.