The Ugandan Ministry of Health (MOH) has announced its intention to reintroduce a draft bill for the National Health Insurance Scheme within the next two weeks.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng made this announcement during the Annual Joint Health Sector Review Conference, stating that the scheme will become mandatory for all adult Ugandans to pay.
One notable change in the proposal is that the previous suggestion of employers making contributions on behalf of their employees has been revised due to concerns about overburdening employers.
Instead, contributions will be segmented according to income groups, with some individuals contributing annually and others monthly. Each family head is expected to contribute fifteen thousand shillings for each household member, and all adults aged eighteen and above will be required to pay, regardless of their employment status.
The reintroduction of the bill comes after several failed attempts to implement the National Health Insurance Scheme, dating back to 2004. The most recent attempt occurred last year when parliament passed the bill but subsequently withdrew it.
This move aligns with international commitments and aims to improve access to healthcare for all Ugandans.