HIMSO is a pioneer in social protection innovations, particularly in micro-insurance, through groundbreaking Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives. The organization collaborates strategically to bridge the gap between healthcare and insurance, ensuring that everyone has the support and protection they need in times of uncertainty.
The story of Health & Insurance Management Services Organization (HIMSO) dates 10 years back when HIMSO was established and registered in 2012. In 2002, a French organization, the Centre for International Development and Research (CIDR) started conducting research on Self-Managed Health Insurance Schemes (SMHIS) in Tanzania. SMHIS was established in Kyela and Mbozi district councils in Mbeya region, this was before Mbeya region divided into two regions i.e. Mbeya and Songwe regions.
When CIDR was winding up the SMHIS intervention, various options for sustainability were considered and the preferred option was to hand over to an indigenous institution to carry on the work and sustain the benefits. In response, HIMSO’s establishment was proposed to carry on the mission of complimenting the Tanzanian government’s efforts in providing comprehensive quality healthcare coverage as well as developing and implementing innovative insurance schemes that addresses persistent risk management needs of low-income households.
HIMSO was established and registered in 2012 as a Non-Government Organization (NGO) with the aim at driving healthcare enhanced interventions while providing technical expertise for the development of social protection innovations; particularly in micro-health insurance through Public Private Partnership (PPP).
HIMSO has a long history of promoting Community Health Fund (CHF), from the time when CIDR was promoting SMHIS between 2002 and 2008 in Mbozi and Kyela district councils and later on CHF in Rungwe, Busokelo and Kyela district councils in Mbeya region; and Mbozi district council in Songwe region. The implementation was conducted through the establishment of Community Health-users Associations (CHuAs). CHuAs as community-based organizations (CBOs) are established by HIMSO and registered by district councils to manage all community health interventions at the council level including HIMSO’s interventions.
In 2016, HIMSO created and started piloting a micro-health insurance scheme that offers transport assistance (benefits) to members when faced by obstetric and medical emergencies. This emergency transport system (ETS), famously known as Dharura Fasta in Mbeya and Songwe regions, is a micro-health insurance product that offers access to transport services to community members from home to healthcare facility or when referred to higher facility level at the district council when the public ambulances are not available. If a member dies in the hospital, the scheme supports families to transport back the body for burial at home.
To date, HIMSO has scaled up Dharura Fasta in 10 councils in Mbeya and Songwe region. HIMSO is currently operating in Mbeya, Chunya, Mbarali, Rungwe and Busokelo district councils in Mbeya region; and in Mbozi, Ileje, Momba and Songwe district councils and Tunduma Town Council in Songwe region. Besides, HIMSO co-manages Dharura Fasta and iCHF with government in two regions and all 10 interventions districts.
HIMSO “Health Insurance and Management Services Organization” a Tanzanian local NGO registered since July, 2012 to compliment the Government’s efforts in improving the health status of Tanzanians. Currently, HIMSO with backstopping from the French Centre International de Développement et de Recherche (CIDR) is running collaborative community health insurance programmes in Kyela, Rungwe, Mbozi and Busokelo Districts. The programme includes the Improved Community Health Fund (CHIF) and an independent private Emergency Transport Insurance (ETI) product.
