Two decades of Tanzanian health policy: Examining policy developments and opportunities through a gender lens

Tanzania has undertaken important health sector reforms in the new millennium, and most recent Health Sector Strategic Plan (2021–26) lays out ambitious targets to achieve universal coverage. Yet, women continue face significant barriers accessing healthcare country is grappling with gender-biased challenges disadvantaging women. The aims of this paper are two-fold. First, we examine evolution Tanzania’s policy over past two decades (2000–21) from perspective enhancing financial protection for working-age Second, explore options gender-responsive insurance expansion context Tanzania. Methodologically, draws on a scoping study diverse literature data review evidence other contexts public schemes. We find that fragmented system relies several independent schemes introduced throughout years, characterized by insufficient risk-pooling. Such provides female-headed households, which financially less secure than dual-earner households. Although expanding coverage represents viable corrective measure, future must account women’s lower contribution capacity enable equitable access. Additionally, design requires gender-mainstreamed investments awareness-raising, service quality, benefit packages.