Uganda's health financing system faces significant challenges, threatening progress toward Universal Health Coverage. Despite efforts to improve healthcare, the country struggles with limited fiscal space, high out-of-pocket expenses, and low insurance coverage.
The Ministry of Health, with its partners, convened a National Dialogue on Health Financing, themed "Sustainable Health Financing Strategies for Universal Health Coverage and Resilient Health Systems in Uganda."
The dialogue aims to identify challenges and strategies for efficient and equitable financing for healthcare.
The National Dialogue on Health Financing for Uganda brought together stakeholders to discuss challenges and strategies for sustainable health financing.
It emphasised the need for increased investment in health, better value for money, and equity in healthcare access.
Kabale Municipality MP Nicholas T. Kamara emphasised the importance of efficient health financing, saying, "Increasing the budget for health is not enough; what matters most is the impact it has on certain common factors like reducing absenteeism of health workers and improving healthcare services."
Kamara also noted that investing in prevention can save millions in treatment costs, stating, "You can invest one dollar in a condom, and if you miss, you will invest millions in treating a person."
Kakembo Micheal Mbwatekamwa, MP for Entebbe, added that the government should prioritise policies promoting accessible and affordable healthcare for all citizens.
“The financing landscape is changing rapidly, and therefore it is important that we start looking within the country and come up with strategies that are sustainable and dependable to support the reforms we are introducing in the health sector,” said Kenneth Akiiri, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, as he opened the three-day engagement.
The National Dialogue on Health Financing for Uganda highlighted the need for sustainable health financing strategies to achieve Universal Health Coverage. With the right policies and investments, Uganda can improve healthcare access and outcomes for its citizens.