Can National Health Insurance Pave the Way to Universal Health Coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa?

Countries of sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly turning to public contributory health insurance as a mechanism to advance UHC goals. Eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa have introduced national health insurance (NHI) systems, and at least seven more have plans or have passed legislation to establish NHI. By examining the experience of countries that have taken this path, we identify some lessons about whether and how contributory NHI may or may not be a viable path toward UHC in sub-Saharan Africa.