Alliance for non-communicable disease urges financial protection measures to combat health-related poverty

The Zambia Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD) has called on the government to reduce health-related poverty by implementing financial protection measures for health.

This appeal comes as Zambia joins the global commemoration of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day, held annually on December 12, under the theme: “Health: It’s on the government!”

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, NCD Alliance member, Brenda Chitindi, urged world leaders to uphold their commitments to UHC, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and recent UHC political declarations.

Chitindi stated the global challenge, noting that over 4.5 billion people lack essential health services, with two billion facing financial barriers.

She highlighted the urgency of addressing health-related poverty in Zambia.

“Zambia has committed to accelerating progress on UHC by implementing policies that increase access to quality essential health services and reduce out-of-pocket expenditures, which lead to financial hardship,” Chitindi stated.

She further urged the government to ensure financial risk protection for all, particularly for the poor and vulnerable, who often face significant financial strain due to health spending.

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Chitindi stressed the importance of eliminating financial barriers to essential health services, pointing out that high healthcare costs often force families to choose between medical care and other necessities like food and education.

“The cost of health services is a leading reason why people forgo essential care or fail to purchase necessary medicines,” she said, adding that such trade-offs delay early treatment, worsening health outcomes and increasing the risk of severe or life-threatening illness.

The NCD Alliance is advocating for targeted government actions, including laws, budgets, policies, and programs to reduce financial barriers and protect citizens from financial hardship when accessing healthcare.

Chitindi emphasized prioritising marginalised and vulnerable populations in these efforts.

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