IFC pledges help in universal health coverage in Africa

The World Bank's private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), said on Friday it will help African nations implement universal health coverage.

Khama Rogo, IFC health specialist and head of health in Africa initiative, told Xinhua in Nairobi that his organization will provide assistance for the development of legislative frameworks and appropriate policies to support universal health insurance in Africa.

"The laws will make it mandatory for all households to have at least basic health insurance," Rogo said during a conference on improving the health of urban informal workers in Kenya.

He said the IFC is working with Nigeria, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal to implement universal insurance schemes. He added that the governments will pay the premiums for the low-income segment of the population, while those who can afford will pay the insurance themselves.

"However, individuals who want more than the basic cover will have to work with private companies to get additional cover," he said.

Rogo said that currently some states such as Kenya only make it compulsory for those employed in the formal sector to have health insurance.

"However, the informal sector, who are the bulk of the population, are not required by law to have health insurance," he said, adding that in Africa only Rwanda and Ghana have some forms of universal health coverage.

The health specialist said the universal health insurance will force public hospitals to improve their quality because they will have to compete with the private hospitals.

According to the IFC, public sensitization campaigns are required to make universal health insurance successful. Rogo urged African governments to find innovative means to ensure that the informal sector enrolls for the insurance plan. Endi