Abstract

In many low-mid income settings, accessibility of health services remains inadequate and inequitable. These observed disparities in accessibility are particularly evident for oral healthcare services. The access to oral healthcare is influenced by the responsiveness of the health system, including availability of human resources for health, oral health facilities’ infrastructure, geographical distribution, equipment and materials as well as community’s awareness and affordability of the provided services. The evolution of oral healthcare access in Tanzania; from the early post-colonial phases of independence to current transition that the country is undergoing from low to a low-mid income economy is presented. The major health policies’ transition from “Free Healthcare” services to “Cost-sharing” and ultimately to “Health Insurance” are presented within the context of their influence towards oral healthcare access.

Highlights

  • IntroductionBeing healthy is a prerequisite for enjoyable and productive life of any human being

  • The prevailing health situation of a specific setting is an outcome of the historical background, policies, and sociocultural issues. This brief chapter presents the various stages of provision of healthcare access in Tanzania within the context of major health policy implementations and unique historical perspectives underpinning the evolution of oral healthcare services within the country

  • Reluctance in usage of formal oral healthcare services is usually due to several accessibility challenges including lack of, and uncertainty regarding the financial resources that would be required to obtain treatment for their health problem, low levels of knowledge regarding their ailment, as well as poor attitudes towards available oral healthcare

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Summary

Introduction

Being healthy is a prerequisite for enjoyable and productive life of any human being. It is an invaluable resource for all human activities and is considered one of the fundamental basic rights. The prevailing health situation of a specific setting is an outcome of the historical background, policies, and sociocultural issues. This brief chapter presents the various stages of provision of healthcare access in Tanzania within the context of major health policy implementations and unique historical perspectives underpinning the evolution of oral healthcare services within the country

Accessibility of Oral health services in Tanzania
Traditional healthcare in Tanzania (1800s and beyond)
Modern healthcare services during colonial times (1884–1961)
Health services post-independence (1961–1995)
Financing system for “Free health services”
Intended and unintended effects of “free health policy”
Implications of “Health for all” on accessibility to oral healthcare services
Moving away from “free” health in oral health
Moving towards “prepayment” model
Universal healthcare
Probable implications on oral health outcomes
Findings
Conclusions
Full Text
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