Compare: Institutional structure

Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage

The Joint Learning Network for Universal Health Coverage systematically documents the reforms of its member countries and other countries that have expanded health coverage through demand-side financing. The case studies contained in these pages are brief, comparative and modular in nature, describing the key highlights and technical features of each program.


Compare various dimensions of country reform efforts using our interactive tool.


Program Key Actors in Insurance Administration Organizational Structure Collections Responsibility Operations Responsibility Oversight Responsibility Institutional structures
Colombia: General System of Social Security in Health
  • Commercial insurers
  • Centralized
  • Commercial insurers
  • Commercial insurers
  • Central Government

In 2002, what had been the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health were merged together to form the Ministry of Social Protection (MPS). The MPS is responsible for pensions, health insurance, public health programs, and other social assistance programs.

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In 2002, what had been the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Health were merged together to form the Ministry of Social Protection (MPS). The MPS is responsible for pensions, health insurance, public health programs, and other social assistance programs.

The National Council on Social Security in Health (CNSSS)—which is composed of representatives from the government, insurers, unions, employers, and pensioners among others—had been responsible for setting the UPC and content of the benefits packages. However, law 1122 of 2007 called for the CNSSS to take on a solely advisory role. As such, some of its duties include defining medications to be part of the CR and SR plans, designing the criteria by which beneficiaries of the SR are selected, and developing the necessary measures to avoid adverse selection on the part of EPSs and EPSSs.

Law 1122 passed the responsibility for setting the UPC and the content of the benefits packages to a new entity, the Health Regulatory Commission (CRES). This commission is presided by the MPS and also includes the Treasury as well as five expert commissioners as established under decree 1429. The shift in responsibility took place in order to have a more technically competent body overseeing what are by nature more technical issues.

The Health Superintendence is an entity separate from the MPS that is responsible for authorizing the entrance of new insurers into the regulated marketplace. It also supervises the performance of insurers, paying particular attention to their risk management practices. Finally, it functions as the entity through which complaints can be brought by the different actors within the health system.

Indonesia: Jamkesmas
  • Central Government
  • District/Local Government
  • Commercial insurers
  • Decentralized to district/local level
  • District/Local Government
  • Central Government
  • District/Local Government
  • Central Government

Presently, five main actors are involved in the administration of the Jamkesmas scheme (1) the National Social Security Council (DJSN), (2) national government agencies, including Depkes (MoH), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Ministry of Social Affairs (Menkokesra), and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), (3) provincial and district governments, (4) public and private providers of care, and (5) the insurer/third-party administrator.

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Presently, five main actors are involved in the administration of the Jamkesmas scheme (1) the National Social Security Council (DJSN), (2) national government agencies, including Depkes (MoH), the Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), Ministry of Social Affairs (Menkokesra), and the Ministry of National Development Planning (Bappenas), (3) provincial and district governments, (4) public and private providers of care, and (5) the insurer/third-party administrator.

A revised institutional structure of Indonesia’s Jamkesmas scheme is currently being developed. The table below summarizes the roles and responsibilities of all of the organizations involved in implementing national health insurance, including Jamkesmas:

National Soc Sec Council (DJSN)National government agencies (MoH, MoF, MoHA, Menkokesra, Bappenas)Provincial and district governmentsProviders of careInsurer/TPA (Askes/ Jamsostek)
Oversight of schemeX (LR)X (SR)
Financing schemeXX
Setting parameters (benefits package, definitions of poor, etc.)X (LR)X (SR)
Accreditation/Empanelment of providersXX
EnrollmentXXX
Financial management/planningX (LR)X (SR)
Actuarial analysisX (LR)
Setting rate schedules for services/reimbursement ratesX (LR)X (SR)
Claims processing and paymentX (Under Review)XX (District level)
Outreach, Marketing to beneficiaries X
Service deliveryX
Developing clinical information system for monitoring/evalX (LR)X (SR)
Monitoring local-level utilization and other patient informationX (LR) X (SR)
Monitoring national aggregate informationX (LR)
Customer serviceXX

LR = long run; SR = short run

Note that the Ministry of Finance has an office overseeing insurance programs and carriers of all types. They also have actuarial capacity available when required.

Kyrgyz Republic: Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF)
  • Central Government
  • Centralized
  • Central Government
  • Central Government
  • Central Government

The Kyrgyz health system is centralized at the national level. The Ministry of Health is responsible for health policy, regulation and the oversight of the health care system. Funds collection, pooling, and health purchasing is managed by the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF) in the capital city of Bishkek. The MHIF is also responsible for the operations of the financing system, as it is the sole purchasing agency for health services within the Kyrgyz health system.

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The Kyrgyz health system is centralized at the national level. The Ministry of Health is responsible for health policy, regulation and the oversight of the health care system. Funds collection, pooling, and health purchasing is managed by the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF) in the capital city of Bishkek. The MHIF is also responsible for the operations of the financing system, as it is the sole purchasing agency for health services within the Kyrgyz health system.

The MHIF is an agency of the MOH responsible for collecting premiums and for funding individual health services in the SGBP and the Additional Outpatient Drug Benefit. The MHIF is responsible for contracting with primary health care providers and hospitals and for paying them for services they provide to enrollees.

The Ministry of Health is responsible for creating a unified state policy for the health sector, functioning as the steward of health care in Kyrgyzstan. Under this banner, the MOH has the following responsibilities:

  • Develop the State Guarantee Benefits Package (SGBP).
  • Develop draft laws and other regulations in the health sector and submit them for consideration to the Government.
  • Organize and implement the registration, licensing, and accounting of medical and pharmaceutical personnel.
  • Supervise and coordinate the quality of medical education within the country.
  • Provide for continuous operation of high-tech medical equipment and introduce new technologies at the tertiary level.
  • Coordinate the activities of the Mandatory Health Insurance Fund (MHIF) although the relationship between the MOH and MHIF is further evolving due to the recent separation of the MHIF.
  • Serve as the purchaser for some of the health program budgets including public health, medical education, and high-technology services.
  • Coordinate public health activities.
  • Support the charitable and humanitarian activities of NGOs, associations, movements and individuals within the health sector.
  • Conduct internal audits of compliance with procurement procedures, financial operations, accounting systems in health organizations and their subordinate institutions.
Chile: National Health Fund (FONASA)
  • Central Government
  • State Government
  • Centralized
  • Central Government
  • Central Government
  • State Government
  • Central Government

The National Health Fund (FONASA) is a public insurer responsible for providing health coverage to persons who contribute 7% of their monthly wages as well as to the indigent. FONASA provides health coverage to all its beneficiaries without exclusions based on age, sex, income, number of family members, or preexisting conditions. It is also responsible for financing both the Institutional and Free Election modalities by collecting, administering, and distributing health resources. FONASA also finances the purchase of equipment, instruments, implements and other infrastructure elements that are needed for the public health system.

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The National Health Fund (FONASA) is a public insurer responsible for providing health coverage to persons who contribute 7% of their monthly wages as well as to the indigent. FONASA provides health coverage to all its beneficiaries without exclusions based on age, sex, income, number of family members, or preexisting conditions. It is also responsible for financing both the Institutional and Free Election modalities by collecting, administering, and distributing health resources. FONASA also finances the purchase of equipment, instruments, implements and other infrastructure elements that are needed for the public health system.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) exercises many responsibilities within the health system: (1) it formulates, controls, and evaluates general plans and programs within the health sector; (2) it defines national health objectives; (3) it directs all national activities related to the provision of health activities; (4) it establishes general norms relating to technical, administrative, and financial matters within the health sector; (5) it monitors the fulfillment of health norms through the Regional Ministerial Health Secretariats; (6) it evaluates the states of public health issues; and (7) it formulates, evaluates, and implements the Universal Access with Explicit Guarantees (AUGE) plan.

The National Health Superintendence was established in 2005 and charged with the responsibility of watching and controlling FONASA and the ISAPREs. Its primary tasks are to license both public and private health providers and to oversee AUGE compliance by both FONASA and the ISAPREs.

The Health Insurance Institutions (ISAPREs) are for-profit or non-profit private insurers that must offer a minimum benefits package that is equal to the benefits covered under GES. However, they are free to provide additional coverage to those willing to purchase it.

 Chile's Health System, 2006

Ghana: National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
  • Central Government
  • District/Local Government
  • Decentralized to district/local level
  • Central Government
  • District/Local Government
  • District/Local Government
  • Central Government

The National Health Insurance Authority is the national governing body of the NHIS. Each DWMHI scheme is managed by a Board, which is elected by a General Assembly comprised of Community Health Insurance Committee (CHIC) representatives. Monitoring is carried out at all levels, including by the NHIS, district schemes, and health care providers.

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The National Health Insurance Authority is the national governing body of the NHIS. Each DWMHI scheme is managed by a Board, which is elected by a General Assembly comprised of Community Health Insurance Committee (CHIC) representatives. Monitoring is carried out at all levels, including by the NHIS, district schemes, and health care providers.

See Figure 1 below for an illustrative depiction of the institutional structure of the NHIS.

National Health Insurance Scheme, Ghana, Institutional Framework

Its mandate is “to secure the implementation of a national health insurance policy that ensures basic healthcare services to all residents.” Section 3 of the Act establishes the governing body of the Authority, known as the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC), which administers the National Health Insurance Fund. The President of Ghana is given sole power to appoint the chairperson and members of the Council.

CHIC representatives represent geographically determined ‘Health Insurance Communities’ within each district. The CHIC exists officially to oversee the collection of contributions within its designated Health Insurance Community, to supervise the deposit of these into the District Health Insurance Fund, and to represent community interests in the management structures of the DWMHIS.

The figure below presents an illustrative depiction of the financial structure of the NHIS, including sources of cash flow and the organizational structure of the management of NHIS financial resources.

Cash flow of the NHIS

Nigeria: National Health Insurance System
  • Central Government
  • Other
  • Centralized
  • Other
  • Central Government
  • Other
  • Central Government

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the body responsible for regulation of the system and the different health insurance schemes. The Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Scheme is the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC). NHIC works to regulate the scheme (including setting standards, determining contribution rates, providing technical support, etc), license HMOs and providers, train health care providers, and manage the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

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The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) is the body responsible for regulation of the system and the different health insurance schemes. The Governing Board of the National Health Insurance Scheme is the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC). NHIC works to regulate the scheme (including setting standards, determining contribution rates, providing technical support, etc), license HMOs and providers, train health care providers, and manage the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

HMOS are licensed by the NHIS to facilitate the provision of healthcare benefits to contributors under the Formal Sector Social health Insurance Program; to interface between eligible contributors, including voluntary contributors and the healthcare providers, ensure member registration, public education about the schemes, collect premiums from members and employers, contract with providers, process claims, and pay claims directly to providers.

HMO Activities

The informal sector scheme under the NHIS is managed by a Board of Trustees composed of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and four others. A clerk is appointed to carry out clerical and accounting duties. The Board of Trustees has executive power and is responsible for collecting contributions from participants, paying providers for services rendered, and operating a bank account with an NHIS accredited Bank.

The Nigerian system is organized as a federation and divided into three tiers: federal, state, and local. The federal government sets overall policy direction and standards, implements national immunization programs, and oversees federally funded tertiary health facilities. The states undertake policy making and regulation as well as financial responsibility for the personnel, operating costs, and capital investment of the tertiary, secondary, and primary care facilities. The 774 local government associations (LGAs) are responsible for primary health care delivery, under the guidance and supervision of federal and state departments of primary health care. LGAs tend to exert the least influence in this system, and frequently suffer from insufficient funding.

Philippines: PhilHealth
  • Central Government
  • Centralized
  • Central Government
  • Central Government
  • Central Government

The scheme is entirely administered by PhilHealth, a government corporation attached to the Department of Health. PhilHealth collects premiums, accredits providers, sets the benefits packages and provider payment mechanisms, processes claims, and reimburses providers for their services.

PhilHealth is responsible for oversight and administration of public sector insurance schemes.

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The scheme is entirely administered by PhilHealth, a government corporation attached to the Department of Health. PhilHealth collects premiums, accredits providers, sets the benefits packages and provider payment mechanisms, processes claims, and reimburses providers for their services.

PhilHealth is responsible for oversight and administration of public sector insurance schemes. It has a governing board chaired by the Secretary of Health with representation from other government departments (ministries) and agencies, and the private sector including the OFW sector.

PhilHealth also features a governing board composed of 13 individuals, chaired by the Secretary of Health, with the president and CEO of Philhealth as vice-chariman. The president and CEO have a fixed term of 6 years.

Salaries and other operating expenses are derived from premium payments and the income of the funds under management. PhilHealth can use up to 12% of the previous year’s premium and 3% of the income of the fund it manages towards operating expenses.

For monitoring and evaluation, Congress has mandated the National Institutes of Health (based in the University of the Philippines) to conduct studies that will verify and validate the performance of PhilHealth.

India: Rajiv Aarogyasri
  • Centralized
  • State Government
  • State Government
  • Commercial insurers
  • State Government

Aarogyasri is managed by the Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust, a body that is responsible for overseeing the entire insurance program, including certain administrative functions such as setting benefits packages and pricing, managing contracts with insurer(s) and in-network providers, approving claims and monitoring of the scheme.

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Aarogyasri is managed by the Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust, a body that is responsible for overseeing the entire insurance program, including certain administrative functions such as setting benefits packages and pricing, managing contracts with insurer(s) and in-network providers, approving claims and monitoring of the scheme.

The administrative structure of Aarogyasri is comprised of four main organizations:

  • Aarogyasri Healthcare Trust: The Trust is responsible for oversight of the entire insurance program as well as some important administrative functions such as setting benefits and pricing, managing contracts with insurer(s) and in-network providers, approving claims, and monitoring.
  • Insurer: The insurer is selected based on a competitive bidding process to bear risk and manage all back-end insurance administration, including claims processing, reimbursements to providers, oversight of hospitals. The Insurer is also responsible for holding health camps in villages to screen, diagnose, treat, and make beneficiaries aware of any health problems they might have; health camps are also used to enroll eligible beneficiaries.
  • Network hospitals: Network hospitals provide care to Aarogyasri beneficiaries.
  • Aarogya Mithras: Aarogya Mithras are patient advocates and assist Aarogyasri beneficiaries to navigate through the system and ensure beneficiaries receive quality care. Aarogya Mithras are also responsible for community outreach.

The table below summarizes the roles and responsibilities of all of the organizations involved in operationalizing Aarogyasri:

Aarogyasri TrustInsurerNetwork HospitalsAarogya Mithras
Oversight of schemeX
Financing schemeX
Setting parameters (benefits package, empanelment criteria, etc.)XX
Hardware specifications (e.g, systems, card, etc.)XX
Contract management with InsurerX
Accreditation/Empanelment of providersXX
EnrollmentXXX
Financial management/planningX
Actuarial analysisXX
Setting rate schedules for services/reimbursement rates X
Claims processing and paymentXX
Outreach, Marketing to beneficiariesXXX
Service deliveryX
Developing clinical information system for monitoring/evalX X
Monitoring utilization and other patient informationXX
Customer serviceXXX
India: RSBY
  • Central Government
  • State Government
  • Commercial insurers
  • NGOs
  • Decentralized to state level
  • State Government
  • Commercial insurers
  • Commercial insurers
  • Central Government
  • State Government

Several stakeholders are involved in the oversight and execution of RSBY at both the national and state levels. A key actor in the administration of the scheme is the insurer. The insurer must cover the benefit package designed by the central MoLE through a cashless facility. Additionally, it acts as an intermediary between RSBY and local organizations in order to provide grassroots outreach and assist members in utilizing the services after enrollment.

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Several stakeholders are involved in the oversight and execution of RSBY at both the national and state levels. A key actor in the administration of the scheme is the insurer. The insurer must cover the benefit package designed by the central MoLE through a cashless facility. Additionally, it acts as an intermediary between RSBY and local organizations in order to provide grassroots outreach and assist members in utilizing the services after enrollment.

Once a state has agreed to implement RSBY, a nodal department is selected by the State. The nodal department designate sets up a nodal agency which is responsible for implementing RSBY. The nodal agency seeks bids from registered public or private insurance companies. The financial bid is essentially an annual premium per enrolled household.

Technically qualified insurer(s) with the lowest bid is/are selected as the state’s RSBY insurer. A state can seek bids from multiple insurers for various districts. Selected insurers are compensated on the basis of the number of SmartCards issued (i.e. households covered). Each contract is specified on the basis of an individual district in a state, with the insurer agreeing to set up an office in each district where it operates. While more than one insurer can operate in a particular state, only one insurer can operate in a single district at any given point in time.

The use of a cashless facility in turn requires the use of SmartCards which must be issued to all members. This requires that a sub-contract be arranged with a qualified Third Party Administrator/SmartCard provider. The insurer must also agree to engage intermediaries with local presence (e.g., NGOs) in order to provide grassroots outreach and assist members in utilizing the services after enrollment. The insurer must also build a list of empanelled hospitals that will participate in the cashless arrangement. These hospitals must meet certain basic minimum requirements (e.g., size and registration) and must agree to set up a special RSBY desk with SmartCard and fingerprint readers and train the hospital staff. The list should include public and private hospitals.

The insurer must also establish a separate Project Office for implementing the scheme and coordinating activities with the state nodal agency in the state capital. The insurer will have appropriate people in their own/TPA, state, and district offices to perform the following functions:

  • Operate a 24-hour toll free call center
  • Manage district kiosks for post issuance modifications to SmartCards
  • Management info system functions, including collecting, collating, and reporting data on a real time basis
  • Generating reports, in predefined format, at periodic intervals, as decided between insurer and state nodal agency
  • IT related functions which include running the local website/updating data regularly
  • Pre-authorization function for non-package surgical interventions
  • Claims settlement
  • Organizing Health camps
  • Publicity for enrollment and post-enrollment
  • Grievance and dispute resolution
  • Feedback functions

As of January 2010, eleven public and private insurance companies were engaged in insuring RSBY beneficiaries across 23 states.

Since in the initial phases of RSBY, the focus was on stabilizing processes and operations, insurer contracts were set for one year. Now that processes and basic operations have been ironed out and stabilized, the contract period has been extended to a maximum period of three years. However, even three year contracts are subject to annual renewal based on insurer performance, with annual performance goals defined by the government at the time of initial contract signing.

The table below summarizes the roles and responsibilities of all organizations involved in operationalizing RSBY at the state and national level:

Central GovtState Nodal AgencyInsurer/TPANGOs/Other PartnersProviders of Care
Oversight of schemeXX
Financing schemeXX
Setting parameters (benefits package, empanelment criteria, BPL criteria, etc.)XX
Hardware specifications (e.g, systems, SmartCard, etc.)X
Contract management with InsurerX
Accreditation/Empanelment of providers X
Collecting Registration FeesX
EnrollmentXXX
Financial management/planningXX
Actuarial analysisX
Setting rate schedules for services/reimbursement ratesXX
Claims processing and paymentX
Outreach, Marketing to beneficiariesXXX
Service deliveryX
Developing clinical information system for monitoring/evalXX
Monitoring state-level utilization and other patient informationXXX
Monitoring national RSBY informationX
Customer serviceX X X
TrainingXXX