Stakeholders brainstorm on ways to improve citizen enrollment into insurance healthcare schemes
By Nde Laura
Out-of-pocket spending is reported to be the most used method by the population to finance health care services in Cameroon.
This has continued to deepen social inequalities and the practice exposes the population to financial catastrophes related to the cost of health spending when they fall ill.
It is in this regard that some stakeholders came together in panel discussion session to brainstorm on the contributions of public health facilities to the reduction of out-of-pocket spending and healthcare financing.
The event was organized by the Nkafu Policy Institute under the Denis and Lenora Foundation this February 24th in Yaounde.
It had as objective to enlighten the contribution of healthcare facilities in order to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare financing in the country.
Dr. Promise Aseh, a Health Economist at the Catholic Health Service, highlighted some of the challenges faced in the health insurance sector.
“In a study, we had conducted, about 6% of Cameroonians have registered into health insurance schemes. One of the reasons why most persons shy away from health insurance ranges from their lack of the spirit of solidarity especially if they haven’t fallen ill yet. When this happens, they start feeling reluctant to renew the scheme. Also issues of trust as they fear some mutual health organizations change of insurance schemes in the country may be a scam since it is not from the government,” he explained.
According to Dr. Bertilla Kinga, a health Economist, and human development strategist at the World Bank group, the promotion of health insurance schemes in Cameroon is the way forward to reduce out-of-pocket spending.
Some recommendations were outlined to improve on the contributions of public health facilities to the reduction of out-of-pocket spending and financing.
For Dr. Joseph Chenjoh, Associate Specialist health care Financing at the Global fund in Geneva said “there should be increased sensitization campaigns and advocacy as many persons are not aware that health insurance schemes are functioning in Cameroon.”
The stakeholders also laid out some policies to improve the quality of health care service in the country to the government.
Staff motivation especially in preliminary Health Care Centers, strategic purchasing, ensuring allocation effectiveness of basic medical equipment in primary health care centers, and bodies should be put in place to ensure price control of drugs and bed fees in hospitals amongst others were recommended.
