Experts advise Uganda on Universal Health Coverage

 

 

For Uganda to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), health care systems at the lowest level need to be strengthened. 

 

Prof. Bart Criel from the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium said these facilities care for the majority of the people both in the villages and urban environments.

 

Speaking during the symposium on partnerships policy and systems developments for UHC in Kampala, Criel noted that Health Centres II and III, which are meant to handle the majority of the sick population, should receive regular supportive supervision by more qualified staff.

 

"One of the challenges is to offer care that is not only biomedical, but that integrates the psychosocial dimensions of health problems and their management. Such care implies that health workers should listen to the people and that patients should be included in the decision-making process. The latter is a huge task that needs to be addressed in the Ugandan context," Criel said.

 

"The community and first-line health services that are located close to people have a key role to play in this endeavour, and not only referral hospitals and university teaching hospitals like Mulago."

 

The Commissioner for Planning at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Sarah Byakika said the ministry has developed a road map towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

 

The roadmap for UHC will include the abolition of user fees and improving access to healthcare, among other things.

 

The SEED project director Dr. Freddie Ssengooba said all stakeholders are going to have an active part to play in achieving UHC.