Analysis of the national health insurance fund in Tanzania: could Out-of pocket be a better option?

This study set out to make analysis of the National Health Insurance (NHIF) in Tanzania and fund out whether Out-of Pocket could be a better option assuming that NHIF was not compulsory. It aims to establish the level of compliance with this scheme and the factors that would determine such compliance. The study collected primary data from primary school teachers in Kilimanjaro and Dar es Salaam regions through administering a questionnaire that required respondents and their households to give the history of their health status and valuation of NHIF. The study reveals that, compliance with NHIF is correlated with age with age, sex, marital status and location of the residence of the members. Other factors that have been found significant in determining compliance of members include presence an old aged dependent, usage of public health facility, number of sick household members, occupation status, availability of drugs when using NHIF and the type of disease episode befalling the household. The result of this study show that majority of members still prefer out-of-pocket compared to NHIF though the former seems be expensive and not poor friendly. The study recommends that’s; NHIF health package SHOULD BE gender sensitive and should pay much attention to women, special attention should be directed on malaria which is still the most pandemic disease, services in the public hospitals should be improved.