HPSS embarked on its journey as a pilot project in Dodoma in 2011 before expanding to Morogoro and Shinyanga Regions. From 2019 to 2023, upon the request and decision of the Government of Tanzania, HPSS rolled out its operations nationwide, covering all 26 regions of Mainland Tanzania with the goal of integrating innovative solutions into the national health system.
At the outset, the HPSS project had a clear vision for its support to the Government to comprehensively address health system challenges at various levels and create sustainable innovative solutions in Tanzania's healthcare landscape.
“After an impressive 12-year journey of unwavering commitment to improving Tanzania’s health system, the HPSS project is now coming to an end, we are very proud to be the very first government partner to introduce the health system strengthening approaches in the country that prove to be effective for systemic improvement of health care delivery. HPSS has made healthcare more accessible, affordable, and effective for all Tanzanians, regardless of their circumstances, and has had a major impact on improving people’s health and wellbeing”, said Ally Kebby, HPSS Project Manager.
The project’s primary commitment was to provide innovative solutions for improving healthcare access, particularly for the most economically disadvantaged. HPSS understood that accessible, high-quality healthcare required a holistic approach, strengthening the healthcare system sustainably. This involved offering technical support, digital solutions, and data-driven policy decisions through operational research.
The HPSS Project Director Manfred Stoermer said a strong and resilient health system is key to sustainable improvements in the delivery of health care and people's health. “The HPSS project has always followed a health system strengthening approach, which includes a variety of measures such as improved health policy and governance, investment in repair and maintenance services, improved availability of medicines, and the establishment of a strong social health insurance scheme, among others”, he stated.
The project’s most notable achievements include a substantial increase in medicines availability through the “Jazia Prime Vendor System” programme and the enrolment of over four million citizens in the affordable "improved Community Health Fund (iCHF)” or “CHF Iliyoboreshwa” social health insurance scheme.
The “Jazia Prime Vendor System” established a new alternative channel for the Government to procure medicine to quickly react to supply gaps. The project also strengthened the maintenance of medical equipment and worked on empowering communities to actively engage in health promotion.
Working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the President's Office - Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), HPSS played a key role in transforming the CHF into a functional social health insurance system, iCHF / CHF Iliyoboreshwa”.
“This system-strengthening approach fortified the Tanzanian healthcare system and significantly expanded healthcare access for citizens responsively. HPSS identified and implemented various innovations at crucial junctures within the healthcare system, benefiting the entire nation”, said Dr Ntuli Kapologwe, Director of Health, Community Development and Nutritional Services at PO-RALG.
The HPSS Project has been instrumental in elevating healthcare delivery in Tanzania through its integrated approach. It played a pivotal role in developing IT systems for managing medical equipment, health insurance, and medicine procurement. These systems are operated by the Government of Tanzania and are fully integrated into the national IT policy.
Additionally, the project introduced new training courses to bridge skill gaps among medical dispensers, biomedical engineers, and health promotion specialists. It also enhanced the capacity for managing medical equipment by establishing maintenance and repair workshops and supporting a national calibration centre.
The project has been working in a multisectoral, interdisciplinary, and systemic manner, pursuing several interrelated and complementary approaches. The Swiss-Tanzanian cooperation project emphasizes health promotion and preventive interventions to improve the health of the population on the one hand, and the need for a well-functioning health system in Tanzania on the other hand.
“The HPSS Project has proven to be a most valuable component of our partnership with the Tanzanian government to reform the health sector and increase access to quality of health services particularly for rural populations, leaving no one behind”, said Didier Chassot, Ambassador of Switzerland to Tanzania.
Source: Swiss TPH / HPSS Project
Video - Health Promotion and System Strengthening Project
Brochure - 12 Years of Swiss-Tanzanian Cooperation
Factsheet - Health Promotion and System Strengthening
