PharmAccess is an international non-profit organization focused on improving access to quality healthcare in sub-Saharan Africa by combining public and private resources, technology, and research. It was founded in 2001 to support HIV/AIDS treatment and has since expanded into health financing, quality improvement, provider loans, and digital health. In Tanzania, the organization is headquartered in Dar es Salaam and runs programs tailored to the local health system.

Mission & Approach in Tanzania

PharmAccess Tanzania works to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by strengthening both the supply side (provider quality, financing, capacity) and the demand side (insurance, prepayment, patient trust).

Key Strategies:

Health insurance and prepayment

Supported the design and piloting of the improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) in regions like Kilimanjaro and Manyara, which later became a model for expansion across much of the country.

Collaborated with the government of Zanzibar to develop health financing strategies and equity funds.

Quality improvement (SafeCare)

Promotes the use of SafeCare, an internationally recognized framework to assess and upgrade healthcare facility standards.

In 2025, entered a partnership with local institutions to scale up SafeCare licensing across the country.

Financing for providers

Through its Medical Credit Fund (MCF), has disbursed millions of dollars in loans to private facilities to improve infrastructure, equipment, and service delivery.

Offers business support to providers to strengthen operations and sustainability.

Digital health and research

Uses digital tools to increase transparency, efficiency, and accountability in health financing and service delivery.

Conducts operational research to measure impact and guide policy advocacy.

Maternal health (MomCare program)

Supports pregnant women with bundled care packages while linking them to quality-assured facilities.

Thousands of mothers in Tanzania have already benefited from the program.

Partnerships & Funding

PharmAccess Tanzania works closely with the national and regional governments to align with universal health coverage goals. It also partners with NGOs, private sector actors, and professional associations. Funding comes from donor grants, philanthropic organizations, and efforts to mobilize private investment. For example, targeted grants have been used to support women-owned health facilities in upgrading quality and expanding access.

Achievements & Impact

Hundreds of facilities have been assessed using SafeCare standards.

Loans worth several million dollars have supported more than 100 private facilities.

The improved Community Health Fund model was scaled nationally.

The MomCare program has guided thousands of expectant mothers through safer pregnancy journeys.

A new licensing partnership in 2025 aims to broaden SafeCare’s reach across Tanzania.

Challenges

Despite progress, several challenges remain:

Ensuring sustainability of insurance schemes and provider credit beyond donor support.

Encouraging adoption of new standards and digital tools among smaller or rural facilities.

Tailoring solutions to diverse contexts within mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.

Monitoring quality improvements effectively across many facilities.

Maintaining alignment with evolving government health policies and financing frameworks.