According to the Ministry of Health, the revised National Health Insurance Scheme will require all Ugandan adults to contribute 15,000 shillings on an annual basis.
In 2021, the original National Health Insurance Bill was withdrawn by the government because of gaps that had to be addressed after stakeholder consultations.
“We have done a good job consulting many people and drafting this bill. In this bill, the National Health Insurance Scheme it is mandatory for all of us to join. Whether you’re in the village or you’re a boda boda [rider], it is mandatory!” said Health Minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, earlier this month.
In defending the mandatory contribution proposal, Dr. Aceng said that people don’t appreciate services that they don’t pay for.”
However, some analysts have said that it may be necessary for the government to consider excluding the poor from contributing towards the health insurance scheme, given that they may not be in a position to afford the figure that is required for the mandatory contribution.
According to the World Health Organisation, Universal Health Coverage 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.
Uganda’s universal health coverage currently stands at 53 percent and is still far from its target of providing 63 percent of its population with quality health care and financial protection by 2030.
According to the new proposals in the Scheme, the formally employed who are already covered by private health insurance will carry on with their insurance subscription plans but they will still be required to contribute to the National Health Insurance Scheme.
Congrats for the step in the right direction to UHC. Ensuring equity is addressed in the bill will take it further.