The Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) has emphasised the crucial need for the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) to operate independently, shielded from any undue political influence. Addressing journalists during a press briefing, ZMA President Kaumba Tolopu underscored that such autonomy is vital for NHIMA’s management to execute its duties impartially.
Dr. Tolopu elaborated that integrating NHIMA within the Ministry of Health offers a golden opportunity to fortify health systems, expand healthcare accessibility, and progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage in Zambia. By capitalizing on the Ministry’s expertise and resources, NHIMA can boost its membership, design comprehensive benefit packages, ensure effective fund management, uphold good governance practices, and deliver high-quality services. This strategic collaboration holds the potential to diminish health disparities and elevate health outcomes for all Zambians.
Applauding the government’s strides towards meeting the Abuja declaration’s health financing target of allocating 15% of the National Budget, Dr. Tolopu expressed confidence that NHIMA, if managed competently, will play a pivotal role in realizing this objective. ZMA reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) in advancing the healthcare agenda and achieving Vision 2030.
Furthermore, Dr. Tolopu advocated for a decentralized approach for NHIMA, proposing that facilities handle claims for certain consumables directly. For instance, he suggested that dialysis consumables could be procured directly by facilities from suppliers based on patient requirements. This decentralized model would enhance accountability, ensuring that facilities order only what they need for specific sessions.
Highlighting the imperative of ensuring NHIMA’s sustainability and efficacy during its transition back to the Ministry of Health, Dr. Tolopu called upon the government to bolster governance structures, enhance transparency and accountability, and foster stakeholder engagement to garner support for NHIMA’s objectives.
Above all, he emphasized the necessity of maintaining a clear purchaser-provider division. NHIMA’s resources should be exclusively allocated to providing services to the Zambian populace and should not be diverted to other expenses within the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Tolopu concluded by urging the government to uphold these principles to safeguard NHIMA’s integrity and effectiveness in fulfilling its mandate of ensuring accessible and quality healthcare services for all Zambians.
Main Image:Mwebantu
