Gov’t urged to approve of National Health Insurance Bill

The government has been urged to expedite the process of approving the National Health Insurance Bill by ensuring it is tabled to the cabinet and subsequently presented for review and approval.

Ugandans' out-of-pocket spending on health services is close to 40%.

"We call on the government to ensure that this National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill is scheduled on the cabinet agenda as soon as possible, approved, and submitted to the President," said Jackie Katana, founder and executive director of Faith for Family Initiative and Chairperson of the Uganda Reproductive Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health plus (RMNCAH+N) Civil Society Organisation platform.

Speaking during a high-level health financing stakeholders’ engagement on National Health Insurance as a Social and Finance Risk Protection Tool on Wednesday at Golden Tulip Hotel, Katana stressed that many children are dying from preventable diseases.

"We view the NHI from the RMNCAH+N perspective to improve performance indicators, health outcomes, and social protection, as health determinants include income," she added.

Uganda is the only country in the region that doesn’t have a Health Insurance scheme.

National Health Insurance Scheme is thus a health financing system designed to pool funds to provide access to quality affordable personal health services for all Ugandans based on their health needs.

The multi-stakeholder meeting which attracted Development partners, CSOs, and government from different ministries intended to discuss how far this bill is what else needs to be done to ensure that it is signed off at cabinet level and how is the country going to adopt it.

Agnes Acibu, the Woman Member of Parliament for Nebbi, stated, "The NHI Bill came to parliament, but the President did not assent to it, which means we are back to zero. We need to restart the process so that our people can benefit from the scheme."

She added that many people are suffering from ailments but cannot afford better facilities, highlighting the need to educate people to embrace the health insurance policy.

Deputy Mufti Uganda Muslim Supreme Council Sheikh Ali Waiswa also Board Chairperson of Faith for Family Initiative, emphasized the urgent need to protect Ugandans and called upon development partners and other stakeholders to continue supporting the process for the country's economic transformation.

Flavia Rwabuhoro Kabahenda, the Woman Member of Parliament representing Kyegegwa district, noted that with more than 60% of the cabinet members already facing some health issues, this should be a top priority at the cabinet meeting.

"We are going to discuss and debate the State of the Nation Address. Why didn't we hear about NHIS in the address? Is health not part of the status that should be reported? This is a question we should ask the Prime Minister every week until it is on the cabinet's priority list," Kabahenda said.

Daniel Kyabayinze, the Director of Public Health at the Ministry of Health, advised that people should understand they either save money by staying healthy or live longer by financing their health maintenance.