The Sierra Leonean government is considering introducing a health care plan that would combine a national insurance plan with completely free care for the nation’s neediest groups. The implemented plan would fund basic health care through insurance premiums, taxes (on such items as alcohol and cigarettes), contributions from citizens, and donors. The UK’s Department of International Development (DFID), has pledged to back Sierra Leone’s government in providing free health care. Children, pregnant and lactating women, and the destitute would be exempt from premiums. While Sierra Leone already has a policy that includes free health care for children and pregnant women, they have been unable to provide the care, due to lack of financing. Children and pregnant women have been subject to “informal fees” - mostly because the few health care workers are paid very poorly, or often not at all.
The insurance plan would be administered by the existing National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT). According to NASSIT, the new health insurance plan would be phased in by district, but creating and implementing a sustainable system will take approximately 10-20 years. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and Save the Children are also working with the government to improve access to quality health services. Health Minister Dr. Kabia says, “We will not rest until our [women] and children stop dying.” (Full story)
Tags: africa health news, rural health care, sierra leone, sierra leone health
