Exclude the poor from health insurance contributions – experts
Dr Githinji Gitahi, the chief executive officer of Amref Africa signs on the strategic plan as State minister for Primary Health Care, Ms Margaret Muhanga reads messages on the board last Friday. PHOTO/ISAAC kASAMANI
What you need to know:
The scheme is a cost sharing initiative, with the public expected to supplement government’s efforts.
The Chief Executive Officer of Amref Health Africa, Dr Githinji Gitahi, has said the government should consider excluding the poor from contributing towards the proposed health insurance scheme to achieve universal health coverage (UHC).
According to the World Health Organisation, (WHO), UHC is aimed at ensuring that all people have access to promotive, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health services of quality, when and where they need them, without financial hardship.
Speaking at the launch of the group’s 2023-2030 strategy in Kampala last Friday, Dr Gitahi said the village health teams and local administration should work with government to identify people who can hardly afford the proposed annual contribution of Shs15, 000 towards the scheme.
“They can go house to house to identify those who can’t afford. Ask them whether they have shelter, own a bicycle, chicken or are able to feed their children. If they are rated below, they may be excluded …for some time until their economic status improves since sometimes poverty is not permanent,” he said.
Dr Gitahi added: “Even when there is money, without equity, the impact is low. Equity is being driven by government reaching the most vulnerable groups and civil society can support government to address vulnerability challenges.”
Uganda’s universal health coverage stands at 53 percent and is far from its target of providing 63 percent of its population with quality health care and financial protection by 2030.
State Minister for Health in-Charge of Primary Healthcare, Ms Margret Muhanga, said everybody must contribute towards the health insurance scheme once in place, saying the proposed annual contribution of Shs15,000 is affordable.
“Some people are fighting this scheme. The politicians are saying people are very poor, they can’t afford Shs15,000 in a whole year yet sometimes you find them drinking alcohol of worth the same amount in one day. That is something we cannot accept. We have to rollout health insurance and everyone must pay. If you have a brain and hands to work, you can afford it,” she said.
“The complacency that the lives of Ugandans belong to government is everywhere. The rich eat and become obese and they are really big, get cardiovascular diseases. The poor are hungry and malnourished. The rich are elite and have information that this diet or this exercise can help my health but they are not doing it,” she added.
Ms Muhanga also stressed the need to check the rapid population growth rate, saying Uganda needs quality people not quantity that will constrain the health system.
Dr Elizabeth Ekirapa Kiracho, the chairperson of Amref Health Africa –Uganda Council said that before Uganda’s health insurance scheme Bill is passed, there is a need for mass sensitisation to minimise resistance from the public.
“Majority of the population do not have information about health insurance. We must fast track activities that can enable Uganda pass the Bill. People need to know that when they contribute, they will be assured of getting services,”Dr Ekirapa said.
Dr Patrick Kagurusi, the country director of Amref Health Africa in Uganda, said mindset change is critical in enabling Ugandans in making better health choices.
