Accra, June 7, GNA - Global health experts and practitioners are to convene in Kenya to discuss the expansion of universal health coverage into the informal sector.

The meeting scheduled for June 7-11, in Mombasa, Kenya is on the theme: "Expanding Coverage to the Informal Sector".

It is being convened by the Joint Learning Network, grantees of the Rockefeller Foundation.

The meeting would offer member countries across the globe, an opportunity to examine health policy, national strategy and challenges faced in driving the universal health coverage agenda.

In a statement copied to the GNA in Accra on Tuesday, Rockefeller Foundation (Africa) Managing Director, James Nyoro said: 93Strides towards universal health coverage and the resulting increases in access to care and financial protection remain critical if we are to achieve a socially equitable society."

"Bringing together technocrats, who practice within national health insurance programmes and those who implement policy at the highest levels is a critical step in creating lasting and context specific solutions for wider access to health services of our populations."

The meeting would be attended by members from nations committed to expanding demand-side health financing schemes, with the intention of achieving universal health coverage.

The countries include Kenya, Nigeria, Mali, Ghana, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The statement said all participating countries recognised the critical role universal health coverage would play in inclusive development, therefore the multi-country cross-learning platform created by the Joint Learning Network would develop stronger national and international ties among health professionals championing and implementing schemes that sought to expand health coverage and financial protection for the informal sector.

Ms Nkem Wellington, Programme Officer at Results for Development Institute, explained that 93The Joint Learning Network (JLN) provides a multi-country joint learning platform for countries committed to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). 93

"While many reforming countries have not yet achieved UHC, connections across countries as well as between countries and international development partners, technical assistance providers, and research institutions will be critical to their success."

The high-level consultation will help members understand the technical learning areas of implementing universal health coverage in countries pursuing health financing reforms.

The meeting will also equip members with essential information required for developing reform programmes in their health care systems.