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Scientists at Makerere University want insurance companies to adopt preventive measures as part of their service delivery in a bid to improve healthcare systems in Uganda.

This remark was made by the Health Policy Planning and Management (HPPM) department at Makerere University School of Public Health, during a virtual webinar on August 17, 2023, which was held under the topic: From Health Systems to Systems for Health.

During the webinar, Global healthcare systems researcher at Makerere University, Prof. Stefan Swartling Peterson mentioned the need for insurance companies in Uganda to quit waiting to help their clients after they have been diagnosed with different illnesses.

“I have spoken to insurance companies in Europe. They help people with mosquito nets and they plan health care packages to support them. This is the kind of health care that we need. So, Uganda's insurance companies should pick a leaf,” Peterson said.

According to him, preventive measures are key in improving the health care system in Uganda because they reduce risk to diseases and help in early diagnosis. 

He, therefore, urged insurance companies to involve such measures in their service provision.

Use of technology to improve healthcare systems

Among other issues discussed, Peterson explained that data science should be emphasized while managing health risks among people. This, according to him, will reduce complexities encountered by people while being diagnosed by doctors.

“Our phones know about us more than we know. So, online surveys can be conducted, messages can be sent to people to encourage healthy eating and community self-help groups can be created. All this can help people understand and manage their health properly,” Peterson added.

Peter Kyobe Waiswa, an associate professor of HPPM at Makerere University added that people should be co-operative with online surveys and questions because they benefit them. He also advised people to stop consuming inorganic foods because they contribute to health risks at a later stage in their lives.

“There’s need to decarbonise foods and reduce consumption of excess sugar. If you are not killing your own chicken then don’t eat it,” He said.

About HPPM

HPPM enables participants to acquire core competencies in health systems research in order to strengthen the health system and its responsiveness to the needs and expectations of the population.

The department also facilitates other departments that have courses within programmes that are hosted. 

This includes courses such as health systems management, monitoring and evaluation, economic evaluation, cost-effectiveness analysis, health policy and health economics, among others.