Strength and weakness of the Ethiopia and Tanzania Social policy

Strength

Ethiopian health policy

Ethiopia:

Health Extension Program: Ethiopia established the Health Extension Program in 2003, which aims to
provide essential healthcare services at the community level. Health Extension Workers (HEWs) are
trained and deployed to rural areas to provide preventive and basic curative services, health education,
and maternal and child health services.

Primary Healthcare Expansion: Ethiopia has prioritized the expansion of primary healthcare facilities,
particularly health centers and primary hospitals, to increase access to essential healthcare services. This
includes infrastructure development, staffing, and equipping facilities in underserved areas.

Community-Based Health Insurance: The Ethiopian government has implemented community-based

health insurance schemes, such as the Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) program, to improve
financial protection and access to healthcare services. These schemes aim to reduce out-of-pocket
expenses and provide affordable healthcare coverage especially for rural and low-income populations.

Health Development Army: Ethiopia has established the Health Development Army, which mobilizes
community members to actively participate in health promotion activities, sanitation, and disease
prevention efforts. This approach promotes community engagement and ownership of healthcare
initiatives.

Strength

Health policy in Tanzania

Tanzania:

Primary Healthcare Development: Tanzania has focused on strengthening primary healthcare services as
a foundation for improving healthcare access. This includes increasing the number of health centers and
dispensaries, improving infrastructure, providing essential medicines, and training healthcare workers at
the primary level.
National Health Insurance Scheme: Tanzania implemented the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to
provide social health insurance coverage. The NHIF aims to improve financial protection and access to
healthcare services for enrolled members, including formal sector employees and voluntary members.

Community Health Fund: Tanzania has established the Community Health Fund (CHF), which aims to
extend health insurance coverage to informal sector workers and rural communities. This scheme
operates at the community level, allowing members to contribute affordable premiums for access to
healthcare services.

Mobile Health Initiatives: Tanzania has embraced mobile health technologies to enhance healthcare
access, particularly in remote and underserved areas. Mobile health interventions include telemedicine,
mobile clinics, and mobile phone-based health information systems to support healthcare delivery and
improve access to medical advice and information.