Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) is a key strategic goal for the government of Zambia. In pursuit of UHC, the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) is extending health insurance coverage to the poor and the vulnerable. This extension requires robust estimates of the cost and fiscal implications to the government, and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
To build actuarial capacity for the estimation of prospective liabilities to the scheme, NHIMA, in collaboration with the International Labour Office (ILO) and the European Union, has initiated an actuarial modelling capacity building project using the ILO Actuarial Health Tool. This project will help build NHIMA’s actuarial modelling capacity and help
real-time estimation of the NHIS’ solvency position, while providing data and evidence on the required financing for UHC. It will ultimately guide the government in the development of strategic financing policies for the sustenance of the solvency of the scheme.