Public health experts are urging the focus of Uganda’s National Insurance Scheme on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to curb the rising financial burden on households. Despite the passing of the national health insurance bill by Parliament, President Museveni’s approval is pending.
Prof Frederick Ssengooba, a lecturer at Makerere University’s School of Public Health, emphasized the need for financing plans to address NCDs, highlighting their increasing prevalence compared to infectious diseases and maternal or child health.
Official figures from the Ministry of Finance reveal that NCDs accounted for over one-third of deaths in 2016. Hypertension affects an estimated 27% of the population, with only 8% of those affected aware of their condition.
Despite a free care policy in public facilities, high out-of-pocket expenditures, particularly on medicines, push many households into poverty. Experts noted that 75% of household incomes are spent on medicine, especially when unavailable in public facilities. The absence of a national health insurance scheme exacerbates this financial risk.
Aliyi Walimbwa from the Ministry of Health emphasized the low private or community-based health insurance coverage, stressing the potential of health insurance to generate demand for preventive healthcare measures.
Experts at the workshop suggested that implementing and expanding a national health insurance scheme could increase demand for primary care and preventive interventions, positively impacting the long-term health and well-being of Ugandans facing NCD risks.
Prof Ssengooba highlighted the importance of designing insurance packages to include screenings for conditions like cancer, prostate issues, hypertension, and blood sugar problems. Failure to do so could result in more expensive treatments for advanced diseases.
