Health financing reforms are crucial for improving efficiency, transparency, and service delivery in low- and middle-income countries, where health systems often operate under tight resource constraints. In Tanzania, the Direct Health Facility Financing (DHFF) initiative was introduced to strengthen financial autonomy and accountability at the facility level by allowing direct fund transfers to primary healthcare providers. Understanding the perspectives of healthcare managers is essential to evaluating the impact and sustainability of such reforms.
This study, “Healthcare managers’ perspectives on direct health facility financing in Tanzania” by researchers from the Ifakara Health Institute and the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, examines how health facility leaders and Council Health Management Teams (CHMTs) view the implementation and impact of DHFF. Based on data from 348 health managers across Kilimanjaro and Morogoro regions, the research highlights strong support for DHFF, especially regarding autonomy in budgeting and planning. It also underscores the importance of supportive supervision, targeted training, and collaborative governance in driving effective resource management and improving service delivery.