Tanzania's health sector reform programme is aimed at improving, the quality, accessibility and availability of essential hospital care and medicines. At the heart of the programme is the concept of self- administration of hospitals as the key component in the health care system. This means raising money from the services provided. The country's physicians, however, maintain that the system would be effective through close collaboration among therapists, hospitals, donor agencies and, at a later stage, a general social insurance system. Care for the ailing is normally a responsibility shared by many persons.
Every service is accompanied by a fee.
Though always in need of satisfaction and effectiveness, an average patient would always seek a service that gives quick relief at less cost. Access to essential medicines has always been a headache in Tanzania, even during the past when the government footed medical bills for all its citizens. Corruption was the first thing to blame before any other explanation which could hardly hold water. Practically, very few of the 30 million inhabitants have a social security that covers the risks of treatment costs and income loss when incurred in the case of sickness. Now Tanzanians have to bear the brunt of international trade rules under which patents are a key factor determining prices for drugs.