overview
This report summarizes the findings of Zambia's Health Financing Progress Matrix Assessment. While recognizing the impressive progress towards UHC that Zambia has achieved over the past two decades, the report also highlights weaknesses in the current health financing system and, from there, identifies priorities that need to be addressed to further accelerate Zambia's progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
In particular, the report points out the importance of maintaining public funding levels for health care, gradually reducing dependency on external funding, and strengthening the provision of free services in primary care facilities. It also recommends the need to accelerate the transition from reactive to strategic purchasing, and to institutionalize the transition of the public financial management system to ensure that adequate operating funds reach frontline service providers in a timely manner. Finally, overlaps in benefits for some services provided through the budgeted EPHS, the National Health Insurance System, and vertical disease programs need to be addressed, including through the establishment of a unified benefit framework.
An update on Zambia's performance on UHC and key health expenditure indicators is also presented.The report aims to inform current health financing policy and provide a benchmark for future monitoring of Zambia's progress in developing and implementing UHC-oriented health financing reforms.
