Getting it Right: Uganda’s Proposed National Health Insurance Scheme
Loading...
Date
2015
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been pushing for
universal health coverage. According to WHO, the goal of universal health
coverage is to ensure that all people obtain the health services they need without suffering
financial hardship by having to incur out of pocket expenses to pay for said services.
Looking at the post 2015 health agenda, WHO notes that universal health coverage is a way of
ensuring continued progress towards the current health Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), while also helping countries address the growing threat of non-communicable
diseases, mental illness and injuries.
The Ugandan Ministry of Health is currently awaiting a certificate of financial implication from
the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development in order to proceed with the
proposed National Health Insurance Bill 2012, which once adopted, will operationalise the
National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This is a commendable step towards the
realization of the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health in the
country. However, as the process unfolds, the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER)
deemed it fit to speak to a number of stakeholders to ensure representation of their priorities
and concerns.