Evaluation of community-based health insurance pilot schemes in Ethiopia: Final report

Abstract

Ethiopia is committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) – expanding high-quality health care services that are equitable and accessible to all. Because financial risk protection is a critical component of UHC, Ethiopia has begun establishing a comprehensive and sustainable risk protection system with health financing mechanisms adapted to our country’s needs. The legal framework for the formal sector social health insurance (SHI) scheme has been put in place and final preparations are being made to fully implement the initiative. In the informal sector – which comprises over 85 percent of Ethiopians – community-based health insurance (CBHI) is being expanded. To coordinate and regulate health insurance in the country and lead implementation of SHI and CBHI, the Ethiopian government established the Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency (EHIA) in 2011. Although the agency is still relatively new, the attention given to it by the government has enabled it to open a headquarters in Addis Ababa and 20 branch offices throughout the country, and to hire a staff of more than 500.