Social Health Insurance: Should international agencies promote health insurance to achieve better HIV/AIDS coverage?

Abstract

This Policy Brief is the result of discussions taking place at the VIIth UNAIDS and World Bank Economics Reference Group meeting. Representatives from each agency as well as prominent economists and researchers met to discuss the linkages between social protection, social health insurance and HIV and AIDS. It is concluded that: insurance is not a panacea; insurance-based health systems can be expanded to include HIV and AIDS services; introducing insurance is complicated and should be done carefully; and both political commitment and sufficient finance are necessary. More information, including presentations made, can be found on the ERG Secretariat's website