Universal health coverage: realization plan underway in Cameroon

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.

With a minimum wage of F CFA 36,250 and a high cost of living, many, especially those in the rural and remote areas of the country find it difficult to pay their medical bills talk less of affording health insurance schemes.

All this has pushed some to turn to roadside drugs and self-medication which could have negative effects on their health because of the poor quality of the medication and methods of preservation, medics have said.

What then happens to the underprivileged persons and minority groups who cannot afford to pay their medical bills?

In October 2022, dozens of persons mostly women were held at the Laquintinie hospital, Douala for not being able to pay their medical bills. Some of them, mostly nursing mothers, complain they had been held for over four months in the hospital under unfavorable conditions. An act which has been widely condemned by many.

It is in this regard that a special plenary sitting of the Universal Health Coverage, UHC plan which is slated to begin in the country next year was held at the National Assembly on December 8th by lawmakers.

The Minister of Public Health, Manaouda Malachi says the project aims at providing accessible and affordable health services to the population.

According to the Ministry Of Public Health, the UHC will go operational in Cameroon next year and the first stage will target children below 5, pregnant women, and nursing mothers.
“Every Cameroonian will be part of this project, we will first target children below five, pregnant women, and nursing mothers, we will also focus on diseases such as malaria, Tuberculosis, and many others,” Manaouda Malachie explained.

Universal health coverage as stated by the World Health Organization, is attained when both the general and disadvantaged populations have access to essential health services whenever and wherever they need them with no financial constraints.
It mostly focuses on child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity.

It should be recalled that the pilot phase of the UHC was expected to start in Cameroon since 2018 and the Societe Sante Universelle Cameroun, SUCAM was chosen by the government in 2020 to be in charge of the implementation of the UHC in the country.

The population hopes that the UHC plan which begins next year will be affordable for all citizens in the poorest communities.