THE National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) recently revealed that it was suspending some services, or reserving them for public health facilities, in an effort to keep the scheme from sinking. NHIMA Board Chairman Dr Richard Mwiinga disclosed that as at December 31, 2024, the authority’s revenue averaged K100 million per month, while claims stood at K160 million. Dr Mwiinga highlighted three key challenges for the scheme – abuse from private facilities, improper usage of NHIMA funds by public facilities, and low contribution but high usage by the informal sector. These revelations by the NHIMA Board Chairman cannot pass without comment. The truth of the matter is that NHIMA’s problems are not surprising at all. We have written editorial opinions...