On Thursday, July 19, 2018, the Ethiopia Health Sector Financing Reform/Health Finance and Governance (HSFR/HFG) project welcomed representatives from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Ethiopia Health Insurance Agency (EHIA), Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), Zonal Health Departments, community-based health insurance (CBHI) schemes, Bureau of Finance and Economic Development (BOFED), health facilities, development partners, and Abt Associates to review project accomplishments and lessons learned over the five years of project implementation (2013-2018).

The State Minister of Health, FMOH, Dr. Kebede Worku, provided opening remarks, underscoring the contributions of HSFR/HFG, particularly in the area of evidence generation for policy use and in successful implementation of the project.

“The HSFR/HFG project has played a critical role not only in deepening implementation of the previously introduced health care financing reforms but also in implementing the CBHI program beginning from pilot testing of schemes in selected woredas of the country to its scale up nationwide.” explained Dr. Worku. “Over the past 5 years, HSFR/HFG’s contribution in providing technical assistance to implementation of all of the health care financing initiatives in the country was immense. The collaboration of the Project with the relevant directorates of the Ministry as well as its coordination in plan alignment and creating synergies with the relevant bodies at all levels of the health system is exemplary. The project has had a big hand in evidence generation and dissemination, and in the design and implementation of health financing reforms in the country.”

“The encouraging achievements registered in the areas of health care financing would not have been possible without the committed efforts and vital contributions of a wide range of stakeholders and especially the HSFR/HFG Project. Special thanks also go to USAID for its generous funding of the Project, which enabled the effective implementation of health financing reforms in the country. We look forward to USAID’s continued support and partnership in the future. Finally, I also thank the HSFR/HFG Project and its implementer Abt Associates for their technical support and excellent work over the last five years of the project period.“

The Minister’s remarks were followed by keynote addresses from Mr. Atakelti Abraha, EHIA Director General, and Mr. Stephen Morin, USAID/Ethiopia Acting Mission Deputy Director.

“Throughout the years, the support of the HSFR/HFG project was vital, ” explained Mr Abraha.  “The role they played in the implementation of community-based health insurance program is fundamental. They have worked hard to build the capacity of implementers at various levels. They have generated evidence on the performance of the program and they have worked hand-in-hand with us to make the program successful. Their implementation approach was very much in line with government requirements. They worked as part of the government system and we believe this is a key way to ensure sustainability.” 

Resources

1. Ethiopia Health Sector Financing Reform/Health Finance and Governance Project. June 2018. Ethiopia Health Sector Financing Reform/Health Finance and Governance (HSFR/HFG) Project: End-of-Project Report. Rockville, MD: Health Finance and Governance Project, Abt Associates.

Read: HSFR/HFG Conducts Regional End of Project Events in Ethiopia