It will provide member countries from across the globe with an opportunity to examine health policy, national strategy and challenges faced in driving the universal health coverage agenda. The meeting takes place between 7 June and 11 June in Mombasa.

“Strides towards universal health coverage and the resulting increases in access to care and financial protection remain critical if we are to achieve a socially equitable society. Bringing together technocrats who practice within national health insurance programmes, and those who implement policy at the highest levels is a critical step in creating lasting and context specific solutions for wider access to health services of our populations,” Rockefeller Foundation Africa Managing Director, James Nyoro said.

The workshop will be attended by members from nations committed to expanding demand-side health financing schemes, with the intention of achieving universal health coverage. These countries include Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Malaysia. All participating countries recognize the critical role universal health coverage will play in inclusive development.

The multi‐country cross‐learning platform created by the Joint Learning Network will develop stronger national and international ties among health professionals championing and implementing schemes that seek to expand health coverage and financial protection for the informal sector.

“The Joint Learning Network (JLN) provides a multi-country joint learning platform for countries committed to achieving universal health coverage (UHC).  While many reforming countries have not yet achieved UHC, connections across countries as well as between countries and international development partners, technical assistance providers, and research institutions will be critical to their success,” Nkem Wellington, Program Officer at Results for Development Institute explained.

This high-level consultation will help members understand the technical learning areas of implementing universal health coverage in countries pursuing health financing reforms.  The workshop will also equip members with essential information required for developing reform programmes in their health care systems.