Calls grow for the creation of a National Health Fund in Malawi
The Malawi Health Equity Network has asked the Treasury to consider establishing a National Health Fund, where financial resources collected from other sources can be deposited for public healthcare service delivery use. The Malawi Health Equity Network’s Executive...
Malawi still falling short on Abuja Health Declaration
Even though the 2022-23 budget allocation is an improvement from 9% last year to 10%, it failed to meet the 15% target for health sector set by the Abuja Declaration. If public services are not adequately financed and households are forced to look for care from...
Kenya Health Cabinet Secretary inaugurates National Health Insurance Fund’s board of directors
Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe says the Kenyan government is committed to expanding health service coverage with a focus on quality as well as reduction of healthcare costs. Speaking in Malindi while inaugurating board of directors of the, National Health...
Kenya expands medical coverage, requires employer contributions
Kenya’s National Health Insurance Fund (NIHF) Amendment Act, which took effect on 22 January, 2022 expands healthcare coverage and requires employers to pay matching NHIF contributions for their employees, unless they offer equal or better private medical coverage....
Regional health financing hubs technical meeting – ECOWAS meeting
The AUDA-NEPAD Development Fund (AUDF) held its first technical meeting for the West Africa Regional Health Financing Hub (RHFH) process in Accra, Ghana from the 29th to the 31st of August 2022. The meeting was the first step in kickstarting the process of...
Zimbabwe health sector expenditure review 2022
The Zimbabwe 2022 public expenditure review (PER) for health examines the recent evolution of public health expenditures in Zimbabwe and assesses opportunities for improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity. PER is important as it helps to uncover gaps in...
Strategic health purchasing in Nigeria: Exploring the evidence on health system and service delivery improvements
Global commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) has led to increasing attention on health purchasing. Purchasing is one of the key health financing functions that provides the critical link between resources mobilized for health and the effective...
Universal health coverage and the poor: to what extent are health financing policies making a difference? Evidence from a benefit incidence analysis in Zambia
Zambia has invested in several healthcare financing reforms aimed at achieving universal access to health services. This study conducted a quasi-longitudinal benefit incidence analysis of public and overall health spending between 2006 and 2014 by combining data from...
New financing agreement to boost South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccination program and health system
On 13 June, 2022, the World Bank Group approved a 454.4 million euro (ZAR 7.6 billion or $480 million) loan for South Africa’s COVID-19 Emergency Response Project. South Africa implemented a robust vaccination program and as of June 13, 2022, over 36.4 million...
Why South Africa needs National Health Insurance, in Nicholas Crisp’s own words
Nicholas Crisp-the Director General of Health, argues that given the degree of inequalities the South Africa is currently facing, a National Health Insurance is critical to ensure that all South African access healthcare without the financial hardship. He...
An update on the national health insurance scheme in Uganda
The government of Uganda is in process of implementing the national health insurance scheme (NHIS)with the goal of improving financial risk protection and attaining universal health coverage. In this article see the questions to and the responses from the chief...
A new document has been posted on Zimbabwe country page
Zimbabwe just finalised conduced an expenditure review for health and its report has been posted on its country page. The report is about 131 pages long and outlines the progress that the country has made in improving efficiency, effectiveness, and equity in...
Burundi: Strategic options for universal health coverage in Burundi
From September 05 to 09, 2022, GT-CSU members met in workshops to discuss the following agenda: 1) Revision and improvement of the health financing strategy document 2) Identify and analyze the different possible scenarios for Burundi to move towards CSU, and analyze...
BURUNDI: Workshop to analyze strategic options for health financing
Setting up the CSU is still one of Burundi's national priorities. The development of Burundi's health financing strategy will enable the country to move towards UHC, and is guided by advocacy supported by the country's political will, legal instruments and...
Costa Rica Universal Health Coverage Assessment
This preliminary assessment of the Costa Rican health system focuses on the goal of universal health coverage, with a particular focus on the financing system and related aspects of provision. The data provides insights into the extent of financial protection and...