LNCT Brief: Considerations for Managing Immunization Programs within National Health Insurance

This brief is available in English, Français, Português, and Pусские.

Cutting across all the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is the goal of Universal Health Coverage (UHC), defined by the World Health Organization as all people having access to quality health services when and where they need them, and without financial hardship.  To achieve and sustain UHC, many LNCT countries have introduced or are considering the introduction of a national health insurance system (NHI) to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, ensure universal coverage of priority services, and improve the strategic purchasing of health services.

NHI can bring benefits, but it can also bring unintended consequences, especially for immunization and other public health programs which may or may not be in the benefits package. This brief will present and discuss the various options countries may consider, with respect to immunization program management and financing, when NHI is part of the health system.