GOVERNMENT through the ministry of Health has advanced plans of creating a social health insurance scheme for the formal sector employees.
Ministry of Health deputy director Technical Support Services Henry Kansembe said the government wanted to set up the scheme to ensure that public workers and many others have access to good health services.
Speaking yesterday in Kabwe during the sensitisation and publicity meeting for health personnel from Kabwe and Lusaka districts, Mr Kansembe said the ministry had finalised the consultation process and what was remaining was for the Bill to be enacted.
Mr Kansembe said the employees would be required to pay a small amount and their employers to the health insurance Scheme and when they required the health services they would access them at no fee.
And Central Province Permanent Secretary Edwidge Mutale said the country was currently faced with double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases and that the government was committed to improving access to health care services for all Zambians.
Ms Mutale said there were few private health insurance schemes in Zambia covering about 1.2 percent of the population which are poorly coordinated and virtually unregulated contributing to frequent entry and exit of private insurance schemes.
She added that the Government intends to establish a social health insurance scheme that is tailored towards achieving universal health coverage in the country and a team of consultants were invited to assist with the design and cost of implications.
Ms Mutale said due to the cost of medical services people usually treat their patients in their homes and when all failed that was when they take them to the hospital which is usually too late.
‘We as Africans have the tendencies to wait till last minute to consult the medical professions mainly because it is cheaper but with this scheme people would be able to access the medical services whenever they have to as they would have already paid for them’, Ms Mutale said.
formal sector employees have the means to pay for their health care. besides some even have schemes, why should they pay extra i see this as a scheme to chew our hard earned money.
It is indeed shocking that MoH is thinking of covering the sector which has already some sort of access to healthcare. There seem to be misunderstanding of the concept of Social Health Scheme, as advocated for by world health governing body. Such scheme should be for everyone or at least for population not in formal sector. Please MoH consult before you get it all wrong.
That’s why some if us failed comprehension the Aarticle includes many other dull lads rad the article and jealous down this is good cheers PF.This is the only Govt, with new ideals.New districts 8000km road net work, ring roads, new Uni.
Here comes Satacare… Bassop!
yes ailingcare
It would be awesome if every zambian nomatter how poor could be helped in meeting the need to pay health insurance, for the development of a nation depends on how healthy its people are. Now this is a very expensive venture to take on, am consciously aware of that… but there is always a way to manage some things even half way, with that fact… i remain hopeful that if the government wants to, it can be achieved.
Yes, and if you do not fall sick in a particular month or year then you will be contributing for others.
insurance always works like that -the good drivers pay for the bad
That is what is known as Solidarity, do you think it works differently in other nations? With your one Zambia one nation back ground, you shouldnt have been worried about this, after all thats what development is all about…. working together in solidarity what did you expect?
What is being done to cover the poor unemployed and rural Zambian? What Obama has done is what we need in Zambia. Where are the technocrats?
The Ministry of Health should not be the one driving this project. The Ministry handling social security is better placed to deal with this issue. Government should also not run the scheme. It should be left to insurance experts or the private sector. Government has failed to ensure that the public service pension scheme is sustainable. The Finance Minister admitted to this during the budget presentation. A health insurance scheme run by government will not be sustainable.
I’m it sure why the govt is quick to copy programmes that are not sustainable. All over the worlds social health care is a big programme that is backed by quality medical personnel and good infrastructure in the health sector, all of which are lacking in Zambia. It’s sad when you read the actuarial analysis done on this. It lacks depth…..another white elephant pa zed!
Show me one state managed plan anywhere in the world that is successful?
They all start with hope and tall promises and end- become a drain on the treasury.
If they are really concerned about the citizens, introduce UNIVERSAL HEALTH – all have free health facility (no, no, not medicines, only consultancy and surgery at hospitals). Sata or Yata all shall go to the same facilities, no exception. If they travel outside, they stand disqualified to hold office. Live and die with the voters who put them in seats of authority.
United kingdom all pay National insurance
NAPSA is a failure
Workers Pension is a failure
LASF is a failure
Public Service Pension is a failure
ZSIC is a failure
Did I leave out any?
Italian health care is one of the best in the world. The idea is not bad if it can be implemented .
All employees in UK pay National insurance monthly this is a good move PF you are really working and thinking of the poor.Only the enemies of the state will not support this once again under 5 is beaten and by the time we reach 2016 God willing the Opposion will have nothing to yap
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