Draft bill on National Health Insurance Scheme finalized

Consultations on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) have been finalized, the draft bill is in place, waiting submission to cabinet, the commissioner of planning financing and policy Dr. Sarah Byakika has said

The National Health Insurance scheme is where members of the population contribute a defined amount of money based on their ability to access the benefits package from accredited public and private health facilities using a card.

The draft bill stipulates that all Ugandans aged 18 and above will have to enroll and pay premium to the proposed national health Insurance Scheme. For those below 18 and are dependents, their parents or guardians will have to pay for them.

Premium for employees in the formal sector will be based on income bands.

A health worker at Kabwoohe HC IV screening a patient for diabetes

“A flat fee based on individual’s income will be determined and not based on percentage of salary”, Dr. Byakika said.

Those in the informal sector said employees in the informal sector who earn more than those in the formal sector will contribute sh15,000 per month until a system is established either through URA or NIRA where income bands can be determined for everyone whether in the formal or informal sector.

Uganda is the only country in East Africa that has not passed a national health insurance scheme despite having the highest out-of-pocket costs for health in the region. An estimated 41 percent of Uganda’s health expenditures are paid by individuals through out-of-pocket costs.

Background

Discussions about national health insurance in Uganda started in the late 1980s and evolved slowly over the years.

On August 22, 2019, the Minister of Health tabled the National Health Insurance Scheme Bill before Parliament for the first time reading.

The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill was passed by Parliament of Uganda on March 31, 2021.

Sadly, in October 2021, the bill was bounced back to the health ministry for amendment because it was not addressing the legal issues. In May 2022, the Attorney General was tasked to look at the bill to harmonize it with the Insurance Regulatory Authority.