Health care financing in Uganda: the role of social health insurance

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to explore the feasibility of introducing a social health insurance (SHI) scheme in Uganda from the perspectives of a targeted population of respondents in Kampala, Uganda.

Design/methodology/approach

Out of 100 questionnaires distributed to a random sample of Ugandans, 74 were returned, yielding a 74 percent response rate.

Findings

Results show that all Ugandans surveyed support the introduction of SHI. Some are willing to contribute financially and most believe that the Ugandan government should make this benefit available to all Ugandans. While there is a great deal of support for introducing SHI, several respondents noted that cost sharing, in whatever form taken, is burdensome on people with lower incomes and has disastrous consequences for the delivery and utilization of health services among the poor.

Originality/value

A larger study exploring Ugandans' perspectives may provide valuable information on how Africans can begin to design a workable health financing structure to promote better access to health care for the most vulnerable groups in society.

Citation

Quaye, R.K. (2007), "Health care financing in Uganda: the role of social health insurance", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 20 No. 3, pp. 232-239. https://doi.org/10.1108/09526860710743363