Minister Mao Pledges Push for National Health Insurance Scheme

Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao has pledged to advocate for the immediate rollout of a national health insurance scheme in Uganda. Speaking in Gulu City during the 6th ITC International Insurance Conference, Mao emphasized that a government-backed healthcare mechanism is vital to rescuing citizens from crippling medical expenses.

Recent statistics from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) indicate that over 90 percent of Ugandans rely entirely on direct out-of-pocket spending to clear hospital bills. During the event hosted by the Insurance Training College of Uganda, industry players highlighted that insurance coverage remains at roughly 1 percent despite total sector premiums exceeding Shs2 trillion.

Mao noted that he intends to rally cabinet colleagues, including the Minister of Health, to establish a clear timetable for the universal health initiative, pointing to successful models in countries like Ghana. He also promised to address bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder insurance companies, vowing to enforce a two-week processing rule for government agreements and applications.

Sector stakeholders, including IRA acting CEO Dr Protazio Sande and Insurance Training College principal Paul Sseremba, welcomed the commitment. They noted that universal health coverage would alleviate the financial burden on citizens while freeing up crucial government resources for other socio-economic development priorities.

Read the original story on the Daily Monitor.