NHIF GOES DIGITAL

Bernard Konga
Director Genera, National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Director-General  Bernard Konga has announced that the Fund is finalizing the digital payment system solution that will reduce the Medical Services Providers' settlement claims from 45 to 14 days.

Speaking at an online CRDB Bank webinar branded  "Afya Forum," that brought together all key players of the Tanzania Health sector, Konga who is an economist by trade, revealed that NHIF had embarked a digital transformation journey that will not only exterminate the delayed payment agonies but also increase efficiency through timely payments and subsequently maximize customer satisfaction.

“We understand your concerns on delayed payments for insurance claims”, said Konga who was speaking from his office in Dodoma, when answering a question from one of the participants,  "let me assure you that the Government is working tirelessly to get to the bottom of this setback. I am pleased to announce that we are finalizing an online claims settlement platform, that will allow us to reimburse all claims within ten to fourteen days," said Konga.

NHIF, which now caters to more than 4 million members,  was established in year 2001 with the primary objective of ensuring that the majority of Tanzanians have access to health services through the provision of affordable and reliable health insurance services.

Despite the compulsory enrollment arrangement to public servants, the Fund also covers a big portion of private sectors from individuals’ traders and farmers, companies, education institutions, and organized groups such as Petty traders (Machinga and Bodaboda groups).

The digitalization move will likely attract applauses from all the quarters of the medical services providers who have long voiced their concerns. It is also another milestone for the Funds’ hierarchy who has worked tirelessly to increase efficiency and customer base through introduction of innovative products that cut across different demographics and income groups.