President Edgar Lungu has signed the contentious National Health Insurance Bill into law.
In a statement issued by Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda the President
assented to the National Health Insurance Act on April 25.
According to Mr. Chanda, despite opposition from some
quarters when the Bill was proposed to Parliament in 2017,
the President says now that the NHI Act is in force everyone
must work towards its full implementation in solidarity with
95 percent of Zambians that have no health insurance cover.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya says the National Health Insurance Act will provide for sound
financing of the national health system; provide for a universal access to quality insured health care services and
establish the National Health Insurance Management
Authority to provide for its functions and powers.
Dr Chilufya adds that the scheme will also
establish the National Health Insurance Scheme and provide
for its systems, procedures and operation; establish the
National Health Insurance Fund and provide for
contributions to and payments from the Fund.
“Furthermore,
it will provide for accreditation criteria and conditions in
respect of insured health care services; provide for
complaints and appeals processes; provide for the
progressive establishment of provincial and district health
offices of the Authority; and provide for matters connected
with, or incidental to all the provisions under the Act,” he explains.
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