Costing and efficiency analysis of Tanzania’s primary health care

Genesis has been entrusted with a key role in enhancing primary health care (PHC) in Tanzania. Our work builds on the Government of Tanzania’s national health strategy, which prioritised the improvement of PHC through its PHC Development Programme (2007-2017).

As part of this initiative, Genesis has been tasked with strengthening efforts to improve PHC delivery by analysing the costing of PHC services and cross-programmatic efficiency.

Tanzania has made significant investments in infrastructure, health commodities and workforce expansion, alongside the introduction of Direct Health Facility Financing to streamline funding directly to health facilities.

Despite these efforts, challenges in planning and budgeting for PHC persist due to a lack of precise cost information. To bridge this gap, PO-RALG, in collaboration with Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and supported by UNICEF, initiated a comprehensive PHC costing study conducted by the Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS).

Building on this foundation, Genesis has been tasked with a two-part assignment to further strengthen efforts towards the improvement of PHC delivery:

1. Costing of PHC services: This arm of the study extends MUHAS’s work to cover all PHC delivery facilities, aiming to:

• Determine the costs associated with delivering PHC services.
• Estimate the necessary resources for comprehensive PHC delivery.
• Identify efficiency opportunities within the current financial framework.

1. Cross-programmatic efficiency analysis: This arm of the study seeks to streamline PHC by:

• Identifying duplications and inefficiencies in PHC programmes.
• Suggesting optimisations for service delivery integration at district and regional levels.
• Estimating potential resource savings from these integrations.

This project aims to refine the financial and operational planning of PHC services, ensuring a sustainable and effective health system in Tanzania.