3 million to benefit from health scheme

THE National Health Insurance Scheme currently holds over 3 million beneficiaries countrywide following the registration of over 450,000 members, Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya has said.

And Dr Chilufya announced that over 128 health facilities had been accredited on the scheme so far.

He said Zambians countrywide could now access health services without out of pocket payment barriers.

Dr Chilufya said this when he officiated at the National Health Insurance Scheme open day at Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital yesterday.

“The Ministry of Health and NHIMA in collaboration with all stakeholders have put in place a very bold benefits package which covers oncology, that benefits package covers all the diagnostic processes that you would otherwise have to pay thousands of Kwachas for them.

“With more than 128 health facilities already accredited Zambians countrywide now can access health services without out of pocket payment barriers. We expect all Zambians to access 100 percent health services by the year 2021,” he said.

speaking earlier,

Health Insurance the National Management

Authority director general James Kapesa said the authority’s Board of Directors had fully placed a robust system including multiple holding frame works to ensure that every Kwacha was accounted.

Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Vice Chancellor Prof. Elwin Chomba said she was glad to report that the l Hospital was leading in the implementing and operationalisation of the National Health Insurance Scheme.

And in his vote of thanks, World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative Nathan Bakyaita, congratulated the Ministry of Health for launching the scheme, saying it was a bold step in the right direction after lagging for many years.