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...
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...
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...
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: 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...
How much is spent on health in Costa Rica?
In 2020, the University of Costa Rica began a study, through research by the School of Public Health (ESP) and the Center for Research and Training in Public Administration, to investigate the market in order to understand how resources are invested in the health of...
Five reasons why Costa Rica is successfully facing the coronavirus pandemic | UN News
Costa Rica won recognition for its management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country has historically had a robust, universal health care system that covers the majority of the population. Read the complete article in the following link
Costa Rica to receive $80 million financing from CABEI for purchase of vaccines | La Nación
At the beginning of 2021 Costa Rica was in talks with the Central American Investment Bank for a loan of USD 80 million for the purchase of vaccines against COVID-19. Read the full article here
Health budget increases more than 10 times between 2005 and 2021 in Bolivia
In absolute terms, the Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports highlights that the health budget was increased from Bs 2,522 (US$ 315) million in 2005 to Bs 22,216 (US$ 3,215) million in 2021, in order to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable population....
WHO published a technical note on health financing in Ukraine in the context of war
On August 14, 2022, WHO-Europe published a technical note titled "Health financing in Ukraine: resilience in the context of war". This technical note provides tailored advice on further adjustments in health financing policy in the context of war based on principles...
Guatemalan regulations guarantee free access to vaccination against COVID-19
One of the fundamental pillars for the approval of Decree 1-2021, Law for the Financing and Acquisition of Vaccines against the Covid-19 Coronavirus, was to guarantee access to health care for Guatemalans in the face of the latent threat of the new coronavirus, for...
In Guatemala, the 2022 Budget Bill will strengthen the Ministry of Health.
In order to continue strengthening the public health system, the 2022 Budget Bill contemplates an increase in resources for the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, in order to comply with the coverage plans. Read the complete article in the following link
Part-time workers will have health coverage
The board of directors of the Guatemalan Social Security Institute approved the regulatory modifications for affiliating and receiving contributions from part-time workers. Thus, when the new regulations come into force, some 25,000 workers will have access to health...