The Ministry of Health has rolled out a new Primary Health Care (PHC) financing model where payments to health facilities will now be based on the actual number of patients served, not insurance coverage, ensuring funds are allocated where they are needed most.

In a statement on Wednesday, March 5, the ministry described the shift as a major step toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

This new payment model is different from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) model, where payments to health facilities were based on the patient's insurance status, meaning only insured individuals who had paid their premiums in advance received services.

Healthcare services were funded through insurance premiums paid by individuals.