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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
US$100 million for Dominican Republic’s COVID-19 Response
This financing will help the country’s efforts to limit the adverse impacts of COVID-19 addressing immediate health risks and socio-economic effects. These include measures to support the most vulnerable population, and reduce the financial burden on households...
Health and well-being in all policies: Thailand experience 2022
Dear Sir/Madam, It is our pleasure to inform you that Thai UHC Alliance partner, consisting of the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), the National Health Security Office (NHSO), the National Health Commission Office (NHCO) Thailand, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation...
WHO launches a Health Financing Progress Matrix Online Network
In June 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) held a training on the Health Financing Progress Matrix (HFPM) in Zimbabwe which convened twelve countries in east and Southern Africa. The meeting ended with a strong call to establish a network to continue the rich...
PNG’s new health plan: “Leaving no one behind is everybody’s business”
Papua New Guinea’s PNG) new health plan should receive more attention. The plan is well-rounded and very realistic in terms of what it hopes to accomplish, but it is also “home-grown” instead of being drafted by international experts. National health planning is an...
“Extending social protection in Guinea-Bissau”
Guinea-Bissau has taken important steps towards the consolidation of the Social Protection system through the implementation of a National Poverty Reduction Strategy in the last decade. Two initiatives have been developed to reduce poverty. The Second National Poverty...