Building Stronger National Health Insurance In Africa

As National Health Insurance in Africa becomes central to health system reform, countries are entering a period of significant fiscal transition. National Health Insurance (NHI) schemes are now a critical pathway to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). While countries such as Ghana and Rwanda have achieved coverage rates above 50%, the continental average remains low, with only 9% of Africans covered by any form of health insurance as of 2021. This gap exposes millions to catastrophic out-of-pocket spending and limits access to essential services.