Assessment of National Ageing a Policy on the Provision of Free Health Services to Older People in Tanzania The case of Bagamoyo District in Coast Region, Tanzania
This study aimed at assessing National Ageing Policy 2003 on free health services provision to older people. It specifically identified the health services which are freely provided to older people and those which are not freely provided. The study adopted an evaluation research design with a sample size of 60 respondents whereas 30 of them were obtained through purposive sampling technique and 30 were obtained through simple random sampling technique. Interview, questionnaire and observation were used to collect primary data. Documentary review was also used in searching various facts. Indeed both qualitative and quantitative were used. The general objective of the study was to assess the National Ageing Policy 2003 on provision of free health services to older people in Tanzania. On the other hand specific objectives were: to examine the extent at which free health services are provided to older people, to explore the understanding of implementers on National Ageing Policy 2003, to examine economic factors that hinder accessibility to free health services provision among the older people and to assess the bureaucratic processes that affect effective provision of free health services to older people. The study revealed that the objective of providing free health services to older people aged 60 years and above as it was stated in the National ageing policy 2003 is not yet met. Findings show that the common health services which are provided freely are consultation, laboratory test and very rarely required medicine. In this aspect, there are recommendations such as policy dissemination, sufficient fund allocation for policy implementation and training to health services providers concerning health services provision to older people.
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