Objective: To decrease deaths due to HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, by establishing a basic health insurance scheme in several African countries and expanding capacity by utilizing private sector facilities.

Commitment: To apply expertise from the private sector, development organizations, and the academic world to establish basic health insurance for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in a number of African countries. Further, the Netherlands will contribute financially to groups previously not able to take a health insurance through subsidizing premium to facilitate access to good quality health care. This will contribute to improved care for all citizens. The Health Insurance Fund (HIF) will work with groups like micro-credit groups, farmers’ organizations and women’s groups.

Background: Based on an idea of former AEGON Managing Director Kees Storm and PharmAccess International, this plan has the potential to save a number of lives by insuring HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria victims against the exorbitant costs of health care and treatment. As the insurance offers treatment through private clinics that can adjust to demand and increase their credit worthiness, it allows for the capacity to realize sustainable health financing systems, and thus reduce pressure on present public health care structures. The initiative will start in one country in Sub-Saharan Africa, and will expand to 3 more African countries.

If the initiative is a success, and expansion continues, international public and private funding will be maintained.