The National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA) is established pursuant to section 4 of the National Health Insurance Act No. 2 of 2018.

The compulsory National Health Insurance scheme seeks to provide for a sound and reliable healthcare financing for Zambian households and the entire health sector.

The functions of NHIMA are as follows: of the Authority is to:
• implement and operate the National Health Insurance Scheme,
• manage the National Health Insurance Fund
• accredit health insurance healthcare providers
• develop a comprehensive benefits package to be accessed by members.
• register & issue membership cards to members and facilitate member access to quality health service.

Since 1991, successive Zambian Governments have pondered the prospect of introducing a National health Insurance Scheme. By 2011 the need to introduce the NHIS in line with the Universal Health Coverage agenda had gained momentum. This political will culminated in the signing of the National Health Insurance Act No. 2 of 2018, which led to the establishment of the National Health Insurance scheme (NHIS) under the Management of the National Health Insurance Management Authority (NHIMA).

The board of the National Health Insurance Management Authority was inaugurated on 15th March 2019 in accordance with the NHI act.
The NHIMA Director General and the inception management team has since been appointed to facilitate the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, setting Zambia on the road to provision of access to quality essential health-care services to its citizens.