Impact of funding modalities on maternal and child health intervention coverage in Zambia

•Increased funding to health systems is critical to achieve universal coverage.•Funding channels have a significant impact on the health system attainment.•Harmonization of funding channels would achieve universal coverage more quickly.

ObjectiveTo determine the impact of different funding scenarios on the achievement of universal health coverage in Zambia.MethodsWe compiled a database of coverage trends for maternal and child health interventions for the period 2004–2009. Using the Arellano–Bond difference GMM model we estimated the effect of different funding channels on coverage for maternal and child health services over different time periods.FindingsA 60% annual increase in funding channeled through the government system would lead to the achievement of overall intervention coverage of 85% for key maternal and child health interventions within a 6year period. A 60% annual increase in funding disbursed directly by donors would take over 9 years to achieve a similar effect.ConclusionFunding channels have an impact on health intervention coverage. Greater harmonization of funding from multiple sources into a single framework would help accelerate towards the attainment of universal health coverage.