Tanzania, which for decades was a socialist state, began a programme to nationalize all its hospitals and medical facilities, including those run by Christian missions, in 1975. By 1980 all private medical practices had been terminated.
But, says Struwig, “there has been a shift back to the capitalist paradigm therefore offering enormous potential for growth in this emerging market. The pyramid structure of Tanzania's national healthcare system, stresses the need for private healthcare at an affordable cost.
European countries and multinationals are making huge investments in the country, paving the way for dramatic improvements in the quality of health and life,” he said.
There is strong evidence that an estimated 20%t of the 39 million population currently have disposable income, making this a market hungry for improvements in sophisticated health care services and short term insurance requirements.
Med-X, one of the Prosperity Groups’ Tanzanian initiatives, now runs 11 primary healthcare clinics of which 5 were purchased and upgraded and 6 newly established by the Group throughout the country. Med X infrastructure also includes a pharmaceutical wholesaler which distributes medical supplies not only to their own clinics but also to medical providers within the region whilst Prosperity Life Tanzania are one of 12 active health and general insurance operators.