DW Simpson
08-17-2006, 11:35 AM
http://english.people.com.cn/200608/17/eng20060817_293840.html
UPDATED: 08:23, August 17, 2006
Uganda gov't to introduce national health insurance
The Ugandan government is to establish a National Social Health Insurance Scheme (NSHIS) to provide express health care services to all citizens of the east African country, Daily Monitor reported on Wednesday.
Francis Runuumi, commissioner in charge of planning in the Health Ministry, was quoted as saying the compulsory scheme would start with employees in the formal sector and extend to cover informal sector workers after 15 years.
"This therefore means that each employee will pay 4 percent of his monthly salary or wage for the service," said Runuumi.
The government used to impose levies on patients at public health facilities through a cost-sharing scheme, which President Yoweri Museveni abolished in 1996.
"The scrapping of the user fees made it difficult for the ministry to advance health facilities to all citizens and that is why we are trying to come up the NSHIS, which we think will benefit all Ugandans," Runuumi said.
The Health Ministry has been carrying out consultations with various stakeholders including private sector participants, government organs as well as the National Social Security Fund to market the new program.
However, State Minister for Sports and Workers Charles Bakabulindi expressed concerns that the scheme might turn predatory on the meager earnings of employees as they have already paid heavily.
UPDATED: 08:23, August 17, 2006
Uganda gov't to introduce national health insurance
The Ugandan government is to establish a National Social Health Insurance Scheme (NSHIS) to provide express health care services to all citizens of the east African country, Daily Monitor reported on Wednesday.
Francis Runuumi, commissioner in charge of planning in the Health Ministry, was quoted as saying the compulsory scheme would start with employees in the formal sector and extend to cover informal sector workers after 15 years.
"This therefore means that each employee will pay 4 percent of his monthly salary or wage for the service," said Runuumi.
The government used to impose levies on patients at public health facilities through a cost-sharing scheme, which President Yoweri Museveni abolished in 1996.
"The scrapping of the user fees made it difficult for the ministry to advance health facilities to all citizens and that is why we are trying to come up the NSHIS, which we think will benefit all Ugandans," Runuumi said.
The Health Ministry has been carrying out consultations with various stakeholders including private sector participants, government organs as well as the National Social Security Fund to market the new program.
However, State Minister for Sports and Workers Charles Bakabulindi expressed concerns that the scheme might turn predatory on the meager earnings of employees as they have already paid heavily.