Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Derrick Kiyonga
Published on 2024-01-31 21:29:14
In response to the increased prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Uganda, public health experts are advocating for the National Insurance Scheme to cover the cost of treating such illnesses.
Despite the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill by parliament, President Museveni has not yet given his assent. However, researchers at Makerere University’s School of Public Health (MakSPH), in collaboration with Harvard School of Public Health, have proposed that NCDs should be included in the government’s financing plans.
Prof Fredrick Ssengooba, a lecturer in the Department of Health Policy, Planning, and Management at the School of Public Health, highlighted that NCDs have not been adequately financed, as attention has been mainly focused on maternal health, infectious diseases, and child health. The steep rise in NCDs has underscored the urgency of addressing this issue.
Government statistics indicate that NCDs accounted for more than one-third of deaths in Uganda in 2016. This rise has also led to increasing financial strain on households, with a significant portion of their income being spent on healthcare, especially when services are not available in public facilities.
The lack of a national health insurance scheme has further exacerbated the situation, with many households pushed into poverty due to high levels of out-of-pocket spending on healthcare. Less than 5 percent of the population has private or community-based health insurance, leaving the majority of Ugandans exposed to financial risks associated with healthcare.
Experts believe that implementing and scaling up a national health insurance scheme in Uganda could generate demand for primary care and preventive interventions, ultimately impacting the long-term health and welfare of Ugandans at risk of developing NCDs. Aliyi Walimbwa, an official from the Ministry of Health, emphasized that health insurance can stimulate demand for preventive healthcare, such as anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Additionally, health experts highlighted the need to re-evaluate the Uganda National Minimum Healthcare Package (UNMHCP), introduced in the 1999 Health Policy, to ensure it is universally available to the entire population. Dr. Elizabeth Ekirapa emphasized the lack of adequate resources for effective implementation and called for a difference in implementing similar policies.
It is evident that the rising burden of NCDs in Uganda requires urgent attention. With the potential benefits of a national health insurance scheme in addressing this issue, there is a growing need to push for its implementation to alleviate the financial strain on households and improve access to quality healthcare for all Ugandans.
Read the original article on Uganda Monitor
