1.
Introduction
According
to data from World Population ageing report of 2015, the number of old
population aged 60 years and above, has increased in most countries and are projected
to accelerate in the coming years. The report shows that between 2015 and 2030,
the number of elderly aged 60 and above is projected to grow by 56 percent (901
million to 1.4 billion) while by 2050, the global population of elderly is
projected to 2.1 billion [1]. Statistics shows
that elderly grow faster in urban areas than in rural areas whereby between
2000 and 2015, the elderly aged 60 and above increased by 68 percent in urban
areas while in rural areas increased by 25 percent. Many developing countries
like Tanzania adapting health systems to serve a growing number of elderly to
maximize health and wellbeing. The government through health care systems
spends a small portion of the budget on health care for elderly and in most
cases health care for elderly is not a priority policy [1,2].
2. Elderly and health care in Tanzania
The
total population in Tanzania is about 44.9 million and is dominated by working
age population aged between 15-64 years old (52.2%) and young population less
than 15 years old (43.9%). Elderly population aged 65 years and above is only
3.8% while elderly population aged 60 years and above is 5.5%. Life expectancy
at birth in Tanzania has been increasing from 43 in 1960, 51.0 in 2002, 58
years in 2011 to 61.8 in 2012 [3,4,5].
Elderly
in Tanzania have no formal social security schemes or free medical services.
About one out of 100 old Tanzanians was entitled to social security coverage in
2006. Only 11 per cent of them had access to healthcare fees exemption at a
health facility in 2011. The majority of elders proceed to work, especially in
agricultural activities in rural areas in order to sustain daily life. In 2011,
70 percent of elders (aged more than 65) were still active on the labor market
in Tanzania, against 55 percent in Kenya; 30 percent in Korea and less than two
percent in France [2,6].
3. Wealth and Medical expenditure for the elderly
population
The increasing health expenditure for the elderly is a
major concern for the global economy [7]. Health
expenditures can be catastrophic, especially for the elderly, who are
vulnerable age group population and often lack social security in Less
Developed Countries like Tanzania. With the increase of the vulnerable elderly
population, the cost and the utilization of health care services for the
elderly have also increased proportionately. Subsequently, the per capita
health expenditure and share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on health
are expected to increase [8].
4.
Methodology
This
study will use a cross-sectional household survey
to measure the self-reported health problems, the pattern of access to
health care services, determinants of wealth and medical expenditure of the
health care services and to assess the current priority setting methods and
procedures among elderly people in Nzega and Igunga districts, in rural
Tanzania which will include
questions from SAGE and EQ5D classification system. Through this survey old
people (above 60 years old) will report by rating the main health problems
including mobility, self-care, usual activities, depression, discomfort and
other related symptoms.
5. My expectations
include
·
To help older
people through talking directly to officials especially under decentralized governance system about health care services need
of the elderly population group and to ensure their rights are protected.
·
To
push for the immediate implementation of free access to health care services
with friendly environment for the elderly population group.
·
To
work with human rights organizations and other NGOs to challenge hurtful
beliefs and customs that lead to the harassment of the elderly people due to
accusations of
·
Witchcraft
especially in rural areas.
short review