Health financing experts, statisticians, and policymakers from nearly 30 African countries have gathered in Kigali for a specialized training program aimed at strengthening the continent’s ability to use financial data to shape health policies and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The four-day training, organized by the World Health Organization, STATAFRIC and the World Bank, focuses on monitoring financial protection in health through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) indicator 3.8.2 and related measures.
The initiative comes at a time when millions of Africans continue to face severe financial hardship when seeking healthcare, despite significant progress in expanding access to health services across the continent.
Opening the workshop, Dr. Brian Chirombo warned that financial barriers remain one of the biggest obstacles to achieving Health for All.
“We meet at a critical moment for health in our region,” Chirombo said. “Countries across Africa are striving to achieve Universal Health Coverage, yet far too many families still face financial ruin when they seek care.”
According to WHO data cited during the meeting, more than 423 million people in Africa experienced financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health expenditures in 2022, while over 384 million people were pushed into or further into poverty because of medical bills.
“These are not just statistics,” Chirombo stressed. “They represent mothers and fathers forced into impossible choices – choosing between paying for treatment or putting food on the table, buying medicines or paying school fees.”
Turning Numbers Into Better Health Policies:
Beyond producing statistics, organizers say the training is designed to help countries transform household survey data into practical policy tools that can guide health financing reforms.
The workshop introduces participants to revised global methodologies for measuring financial protection under SDG 3.8.2, which tracks the proportion of people experiencing financial hardship because of healthcare spending.
According to the training concept note, the program follows three key stages: generating financial protection data, interpreting the “story behind the numbers,” and disseminating evidence to inform policy decisions.
Participants are learning how to analyze household expenditure surveys, calculate financial protection indicators, identify vulnerable populations, and translate findings into recommendations for reducing out-of-pocket spending and increasing public investment in health.
Chirombo said the ultimate goal is not merely reporting statistics to international agencies but enabling governments to make better decisions.
“Our aim is to ensure that this updated measure becomes a practical tool for countries to track progress and inform reforms,” he said. “When data producers and policymakers work hand-in-hand, we strengthen the entire chain from evidence to action.”
The training brings together officials from Ministries of Health and National Statistical Offices from countries including Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, among others.
Data as a Tool for Social Justice:
Representatives from partner institutions emphasized that measuring financial protection is ultimately about protecting citizens from poverty caused by illness.
A representative of the World Bank’s Africa Region, Zelalew Yilma Debebe described financial protection as “the most tangible dimension” of Universal Health Coverage for ordinary citizens.
“Beyond the percentages and the tables, the question we are addressing here is deeply human: how do we prevent illness from pushing a family into poverty?” Debebe said. “How do we ensure that no household is forced to choose between seeking care and feeding its children?”
He argued that monitoring financial protection is “not merely a statistical exercise” but “a tool for social justice” that helps governments identify hidden inequalities and design more equitable health financing systems.
“It helps us identify hidden inequalities, target the most effective policies, and advocate for more equitable health financing systems,” he said.
The World Bank representative added that strengthening statistical systems and improving household survey data are essential for translating evidence into concrete reforms.
“We build the foundations for data-driven policies capable of transforming people’s lives,” he said.
Strengthening Africa’s Statistical Capacity:
For STATAFRIC, the training aligns with broader continental efforts to improve the production of harmonized and internationally comparable statistics under the Second Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2).
STATAFRIC representative Gildas Nzingoula noted that reliable and timely statistics are essential for governments seeking to expand healthcare access while protecting households from financial distress.
“They enable governments to identify vulnerable populations, monitor inequalities, and design interventions that improve access to healthcare while protecting households from financial hardship,” Nzingoula said.
He added that participants will gain practical skills to calculate SDG 3.8.2 and related indicators using household survey data.
“More importantly, they will acquire practical skills to produce SDG 3.8.2 and related indicators using household survey data,” Nzingoula said.
The training is expected to strengthen collaboration between national statistical offices and ministries of health, ensuring that financial protection indicators are not only produced but also used in policymaking.
Rwanda Showcased as a Model:
Rwanda was repeatedly highlighted during the workshop as an example of how strong political commitment and health financing reforms can expand access to care while reducing financial barriers.
Chirombo pointed to Rwanda’s community-based health insurance scheme, known as Mutuelle de Santé, as a model for the continent.
“The vast majority of Rwandans are now covered by health insurance, and out-of-pocket costs have fallen to some of the lowest levels in Africa,” he said.
However, he cautioned that progress must be continuously monitored to identify groups that may still face catastrophic healthcare expenses.
Representing Rwanda’s Ministry of Health, Fernand Rwamwejo said the training will help countries move “from commitment to tangible policy actions.”
He noted that the initiative aligns with Rwanda’s ongoing health sector reforms and efforts to ensure quality healthcare remains financially sustainable.
“As we invest in quality healthcare, we will ensure it is sustainable and not a burden to families,” Rwamwejo said. “Rwanda will learn from others as well as share its experience.”
Meanwhile, National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda representative Jean Pierre Niringiyimana emphasized that the value of financial protection data lies in identifying those left behind.
“This goes beyond indicator production but towards policy action,” Niringiyimana said. “That is critical to turning data into tangible action.”
Building Evidence for Universal Health Coverage:
The Kigali workshop forms part of a long-term strategy by WHO, STATAFRIC and the World Bank to build African countries’ capacity to regularly monitor financial protection and use evidence to guide health financing reforms.
By the end of the training, participating countries are expected to be able to generate financial protection estimates using national household survey data, interpret the findings, and apply them to policymaking aimed at reducing out-of-pocket spending and expanding financial risk protection.
As African countries work toward Universal Health Coverage and the health targets under the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, organizers believe stronger data systems will be crucial.
Chirombo captured the workshop’s central mission in his closing appeal to participants:
“Let us use this week in Kigali to turn data into action and evidence into impact, ensuring that no one is pushed into poverty simply because they access the health care they need – the health care which is their right.”
