IMFIN brief 23: Ghana, mixed financing for immunization and shifting responsibility

What can other countries learn about immunization financing from Ghana’s experience with its National Health Insurance Scheme, which includes complex health financing and service delivery systems?

Key points

• Mixed health financing and service delivery systems can provide opportunities for sustainable immunization financing, but financing responsibilities must be clearly delineated.
• The growing role of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Ghana’s overall health financing has created a potential additional source of sustainable financing for immunization.
• The shift in responsibility for immunization financing from the Ministry of Health to the NHIS has not been made explicit, however, so cuts to the ministry budget could jeopardize immunization efforts and affect immunization coverage.