MPs back health insurance scheme
Mar 21, 2009
The social services committee of parliament has backed the proposed national health insurance scheme saying it will benefit workers across the board.
By Susan Nimusiima
The social services committee of parliament has backed the proposed national health insurance scheme saying it will benefit workers across the board.
The scheme, which is still a draft in cabinet, is intended to offer medical services to a member and four dependants.
Discussing the meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on Thursday, the MPs raised concern that though the scheme is good, it may be abused like many other government initiatives.
“How different is the social health scheme from other schemes like the National Social Security Fund, which have their accounts audited and presented to parliament but the funds are mismanaged?†Sylvia Sinabulya, the Mityana woman MP
asked.
The MPs also expressed concern over the Bill mainly targeting the formal sector which not only is over burdened with taxes and schemes but also has other private insurance schemes running.
State minister for health Dr Richard Nduhura however said that private health providers will be incorporated into the scheme. “I am sure that once this scheme starts running, it will attract even the private health providers. Besides, if we do not have a law in place to streamline health insurance, even what you pay at AAR is at risk,†Nduhura said.
The compulsory scheme, which is to be introduced this July, intends to register every Ugandan within 15 years from today.
“We are starting with the civil servants for the first three years, then we will incorporate the formal private sector and finally the informal,†Nduhura said.
Part of the money collected from the scheme is to help in the building of infrastructure for the Government and private health centres that will be participating.
“A quality improvement plan was built in the model at the rate of 30% for private health facilities and 50% for government hospitals and health centres,†Dr Robert Basaza, the acting Public Health Planner Ministry of Health, said.
The social services committee of parliament has backed the proposed national health insurance scheme saying it will benefit workers across the board.
The scheme, which is still a draft in cabinet, is intended to offer medical services to a member and four dependants.
Discussing the meeting at Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala on Thursday, the MPs raised concern that though the scheme is good, it may be abused like many other government initiatives.
“How different is the social health scheme from other schemes like the National Social Security Fund, which have their accounts audited and presented to parliament but the funds are mismanaged?†Sylvia Sinabulya, the Mityana woman MP
asked.
The MPs also expressed concern over the Bill mainly targeting the formal sector which not only is over burdened with taxes and schemes but also has other private insurance schemes running.
State minister for health Dr Richard Nduhura however said that private health providers will be incorporated into the scheme. “I am sure that once this scheme starts running, it will attract even the private health providers. Besides, if we do not have a law in place to streamline health insurance, even what you pay at AAR is at risk,†Nduhura said.
The compulsory scheme, which is to be introduced this July, intends to register every Ugandan within 15 years from today.
“We are starting with the civil servants for the first three years, then we will incorporate the formal private sector and finally the informal,†Nduhura said.
Part of the money collected from the scheme is to help in the building of infrastructure for the Government and private health centres that will be participating.
“A quality improvement plan was built in the model at the rate of 30% for private health facilities and 50% for government hospitals and health centres,†Dr Robert Basaza, the acting Public Health Planner Ministry of Health, said.