*2.2.4 Implications of "Health for all" on accessibility to oral healthcare services*

All Tanzanians enjoyed free oral healthcare services at all government facilities under free healthcare regime. Nevertheless, the bulk of care being offered was emergency care in form of tooth extractions, perpetuating the set precedence of the colonial era. Establishment of restorative and regular preventive oral services for maintenance of oral health was never attempted. There were simply not enough oral health professionals to feasibly implement this and the medical-model of health was prevalent at that time, where health facilities were perceived as placed where you go only to "regain" your health.

Nonetheless, oral healthcare services are not uniformly available in the country. After independence, the government strived to avail dental services at regional hospitals. Gradually (starting in 1980s) the services were expanded to district hospitals although up to the year 2020; 30 out of 184 district councils had no oral healthcare services. Additionally, in large cities and towns, few health centers provide oral healthcare services. Along with the government's health sector reforms, permitting private healthcare services gave room to inauguration of private dental clinics which augment the government efforts in provision of oral healthcare. Illustrating the disproportionate distribution and the inability of the public health facilities to meet oral healthcare demand, the number of private oral health facilities outnumbers those of the public (Health Facility Registration System, 2021).

## **2.3 Cost-sharing**
