The Medicines Research and Access Platform (MedRap) has called on government to recapitalize the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) and revisit the Act under which it was established, amid mounting financial challenges.
This comes in the wake of revelations by the Healthcare Federation of Zambia (HFZ) that NHIMA owes the private health sector hundreds of millions of kwacha for services rendered to the public.
Speaking in an interview with RCV News in Lusaka today, MedRap Executive Director, Liyoka Liyoka, expressed concern that NHIMA’s financial woes stem from spending more than it has been receiving, a situation he said calls for urgent reforms.
“NHIMA began on the wrong footing because it was paying more into the private sector while not reimbursing equivalently for the public sector. g,” said Mr. Liyoka.
He stressed the need for government to recapitalize the Authority so that it can settle domestic debt owed to private health facilities and prevent further strain on their operations.
Mr. Liyoka further urged NHIMA to introduce differentiated insurance packages once recapitalized, to ensure its sustainability and ability to deliver quality healthcare services.
Christabel Kamunu
