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Health Committee Calls for Action on Health Insurance Scheme Proposals

Members of Parliament sitting on the Health Committee have emphasized the need to expedite the formation of a legal framework to establish the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
17 Jan 2025 08:28
Minister for Health, Jane Ruth Aceng, with others before Parliament's Health Committee.
Members of Parliament on the Health Committee have emphasized the need to expedite the formation of a legal framework to establish the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

This was during the committee’s Thursday meeting with the Minister of Health, Jane Ruth Aceng.

During the committee meeting, Aceng noted that the Ministry of Health submitted a paper before the Cabinet on the scheme, which remains pending.

“The Ministry completed all the necessary steps and documentation for the National Health Insurance Scheme and submissions were made. However, there has been no response on this matter,” she said.

Ibanda Rwemulikya, the Ntoroko County MP urged Cabinet to pronounce itself on the matter.

“If the Health Minister submitted this two years ago and nothing has been done, then it is not good. People in this country are suffering yet the National Health Insurance Scheme can support their health needs,” said Rwemulikya.

Florence Nebanda, the Butaleja Woman MP said a Bill that would establish the scheme was handled before and as such, ought to be brought back before Parliament promptly.

“In the 10th Parliament, the National Health Insurance Bill was passed and sent to the President, who did not assent to it. He sent it back to the Ministry of Health to come up with a better law. When do we expect it back in Parliament?” Nebanda asked.

The Bill that was previously passed in 2021, had a proposal for Ugandans aged 18 years and above to pay a premium to the National Health Insurance Scheme, and a proposal that the scheme be financed by a combination of employee and government contributions. 

However, according to the Minister of Health, all modifications to the law, await Cabinet approval before it is reintroduced in Parliament.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Kamara, the Kabale Municipality MP, tasked the Minister with the budget interventions aimed at answering the plea of medical interns in the country.

“Funding has been provided for the new interns to be deployed,” Aceng said.

The Minister said the Ministry has been allocated 4.004 trillion Shillings for the health sector in the financial year 2025/2026, with key interventions being the prevention of high-burden and epidemic-prone diseases, prevention of non-communicable diseases, and expending community health education.

Among the unfunded priorities, Aceng called for the reinstatement of 100 billion Shillings to National Medical Stores (NMS), that had initially been allocated in financial year 2024/2025.

“This money was meant for essential supplies, testing kits reagents and other supplies for malaria and HIV/AIDS which contribute to the highest burden of disease,” said Aceng.

On the status of the construction of Lubowa Specialised Hospital, the Minister noted that the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, with overall physical progress as of 31 December 2024, being at 45 percent.

“The project has reached levels that need constant monitoring and supervision, and as such 1.5 billion Shillings is needed for supervision in the financial year 2025/2026,” Aceng added.

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