A national insurance scheme will improve healthcare in Uganda

 

UPDF officers check people as they queued up to access the the General Court Martial session at Bombo Health Centre III on Monday. This was during the trial of Pte Patrick Odoki, who is accused of shooting 10 people. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA. 

 

By Kaddunabbi I. Lubega

In Summary

There is still a lot needed to enhance access, improve quality and lower the costs of healthcare which can be achieved by introducing national health insurance scheme. It is such policies that can lead to sustainable healthcare provision...

The current healthcare debate is about the search for a health system where everyone can get adequate and appropriate healthcare. That is why, for instance, legislators-- especially before the passing of the 2012/13 national budget-- insisted on recruiting more health workers and increasing their remuneration in addition to extending health services to rural areas.

With approximately 35 million people, Uganda is still struggling to build a health system that can effectively deliver quality services. Access to healthcare throughout the country is determined by numerous factors, though in particular, major divides exist between the urban and rural communities and between the rich and poor.

 

At 50 years as an independent nation, healthcare delivery in Uganda is still very complex and expensive. Although the government receives grants for the sector, many families are impoverished and therefore unable to access proper healthcare. Very few can afford quality health services, making appropriate medical care a “privilege” for a small number of rich Ugandans.

It is high time the government generated resources to improve health service delivery, especially among the rural poor by coming up with a workable plan such as a national health insurance scheme that will guarantee every Ugandan access to quality healthcare at low cost.




 Health problems often arise unexpectedly and the medical bills that come with them can leave you in debts and may lead to difficulty in settling other financial obligations. That is why a health insurance scheme is necessary.

In addition, providing patients with information on the benefits of health insurance, coupled with well-designed wellness programmes at health centres by health insurance providers will also reduce health costs. When patients are given transparent information about the costs of alternative health policies and probably treatments using alternative providers in advance, they will be empowered to make the right decisions at the right time. The wellness programmes will help Ugandans take better care of their health and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Once people have the means to evaluate the benefits of health insurance and compare the costs, they will make better choices.

The national health insurance scheme is a sustainable approach because its private sector driven. If the government can provide conducive policies rather than having or stalling budgetary reallocations, we will improve healthcare services in this country . The resources which will be generated from the scheme will also improve curative services for those in compulsory schemes.

The government through the Ministry of Health, has started a process of establishing the national health insurance scheme, which needs to be fast-tracked and concluded soon. The Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda (IRA)will provide technical expertise which may be required to make the scheme work effectively and efficiently for the entire country. To supplement these efforts, IRA is already regulating the health membership organisations and health insurance organisations, all aimed at protecting the policy holders and safeguarding the general public in accessing quality services.

Ideally, what we need are clinics or health centres that are conveniently accessible with services that are affordable, well-equipped and with adequately paid medical personnel. However, as we recognise the government’s efforts in addition to the private sector initiatives, there is still a lot needed to enhance access, improve quality and lower the costs of healthcare, which can be achieved by introducing national health insurance scheme. It is such policies that can lead to sustainable healthcare provision in Uganda!

Mr Kaddunabbi Lubega is the Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Regulatory Authority of Uganda