Leveraging primary healthcare to address the double burden of disease and advance universal health coverage: lessons from Tanzania's First International Primary Healthcare Conference

Abstract

Introduction: in March 2024, Tanzania, through the Ministry of the President’s Office, Regional Administrative and Local Governance (PORALG), hosted the first International Primary Healthcare Conference (IPHC). The conference convened researchers, policymakers, implementers, and practitioners to discuss health challenges and interventions in the context of primary healthcare (PHC) in Tanzania. This paper summarizes key lessons from the conference on how Tanzania is leveraging PHC to address the double burden of disease and advance universal health coverage (UHC). Methods: a desk review of conference documents, including submitted abstracts, conference proceedings, and videos, was undertaken. Descriptive content analysis was utilized to generate categories from all relevant documents presented under the Communicable and Non communicable Disease (NCDs) subthemes, focusing on themes, presentations, and discussions. Results: findings from the analysis were grouped into six categories: (1) data-driven decision-making in PHC, (2) challenges and opportunities in PHC funding for service integration, (3) barriers to integrating NCD services into vertical programs, (4) the role of Community Health Workers (CHWs) in supporting the continuum of care, (5) capacity building for health system performance, and (6) political will as a driver of health interventions. Conclusion: data utilization enables targeted interventions that address community needs, while local funding is vital for consistent service delivery. Effective integration of chronic care, supported by empowered CHWs, is essential to strengthen PHC in Tanzania. Strong political commitment and capacity building promote high-quality service and improved health outcomes. Collaboration among stakeholders remains critical to strengthening PHC and achieving universal health coverage (UHC).