Inequalities in Healthcare Spending on Curative Services: Evidence from Zambia

Both public spending and overall spending on curative services have become more egalitarian in Zambia with the rollout of Universal Health Coverage policies across the country. New research finds that the distribution of benefits from public spending remains consistently pro-poor, except at public hospitals. But while the distribution of benefits from overall spending has become more equitable across levels and types of healthcare, equality has not yet been achieved. Differences between provinces in the distribution of public and overall benefits have become smaller over time, with only two provinces displaying a pro-least-poor distribution of health spending. Further policy action is needed to consolidate current equity gains by tackling the remaining sources of inequality.