Increase in private health insurance coverage a tool for attaining universal health coverage

By Nde Laura

Access to quality health care for many across the country remains a major challenge as most persons cannot afford to get proper health care services when they get ill.

Reports reveal the first phase of the Universal Health Coverage plan has already been launched in the country and will target children below 5, pregnant women and nursing mothers but how this plan can be effective in all areas of the country is still on the table.

Subscribing to health insurance schemes is crucial for it serves as a financial risk protection in reducing out-of-pocket spending which is reported to be the most used method by the population to finance health care services in Cameroon.

The issue of health insurance coverage in the country and the role it plays in attaining the UHC plan are some of the issues discussed by stakeholders in the health, civil society, and insurance sectors in a panel discussion.

The event was organized by the Nkafu Policy Institute under the Denis and Lenora Foundation today March 1st 2023 in Yaounde.

It had as objective to leverage access to private health insurance in Cameroon in hopes of attaining the universal health coverage scheme and to examine the feasibility of attaining the UHC in Cameroon.

According to research conducted by the Nkafu Policy Institute on the barriers and motivation to health insurance subscriptions in Cameroon, most persons shy away from getting insurance schemes due to a lack of trust in existing health insurance policies and the lack of finances to subscribe among others.

“Many people are not aware of the availability of health insurance schemes in Cameroon others said the long administrative procedures in getting the funds when you fall sick poses a problem and this might cause them to withdraw from the setting,” Regina Sinsai, Research Assistant at the Nkafu Policy Institute explained.

They noted that health insurance companies should be transparent and accountable in delivering services to the population as many have lost trust in these health insurance companies hence are skeptical about investing in another to get covered for their health issues.

Some of the recommendations outlined to improve the adherence to health insurance subscriptions in Cameroon include sensitization on the availability of health insurance frameworks, the outlining of a national strategic plan for health insurance coverage, and the importance for government to collaborate with health insurance companies in order to ensure that the population gets quality health care services amongst others.