In a powerful call to action, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, the former Health Minister during the Patriotic Front (PF) regime, has urged the Zambian government to intervene immediately to save the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA). Dr. Chilufya warned that if NHIMA collapses, it will push the country into a “death trap,” ultimately costing more lives and pushing more Zambians into poverty.
Speaking to the media, Dr. Chilufya emphasized that NHIMA is a cornerstone of Zambia’s healthcare system, playing a pivotal role in providing access to quality healthcare services. Its potential collapse would have disastrous consequences, including heightened morbidity, mortality, and the worsening of poverty across the country. He pointed out that NHIMA’s financial troubles have been exacerbated by poor policy, strategic, and management decisions, despite warnings from the 2022 NHIMA Actuarial Valuation that the scheme would be insolvent by 2024 unless urgent reforms were enacted.
One of the most pressing concerns highlighted by Dr. Chilufya is the erosion of Zambia’s progress toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key goal under the country’s Vision 2030. If NHIMA is allowed to fail, it would directly undermine these aspirations and leave many Zambians without access to critical healthcare.
“The government must act swiftly to save NHIMA, as its failure would set Zambia back in terms of healthcare delivery and poverty alleviation,” Dr. Chilufya stressed.
To avert disaster, Dr. Chilufya has proposed several key policy actions. These include the reconstitution of the NHIMA board to ensure strong governance, the expansion of NHIMA’s membership base, and reforms aimed at bolstering contributions from both the formal and informal sectors. Additionally, he called for an immediate capital injection to address the scheme’s financial gaps, which would help cover outstanding claims and prevent further deterioration.
The former health minister also recommended restructuring NHIMA’s contribution system, shifting from a basic income model to one based on gross income, with mandatory contributions for all sectors. This would raise additional funds, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the health insurance program. Another reform he advocated for was the standardization of healthcare service pricing across both public and private sectors, which would help contain costs and increase transparency.
“We cannot afford to let NHIMA collapse,” Dr. Chilufya warned. “Doing so would betray the aspirations of Universal Health Coverage and hinder the progress of Zambia’s Vision 2030.”
With the clock ticking, Dr. Chilufya is calling on policymakers and the Zambian government to take urgent action. Without significant reforms and a renewed commitment to NHIMA, Zambia faces a bleak future, where access to essential healthcare services could become an unattainable luxury for the majority of its citizens.
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