Africa  

Feature: Plans to introduce national health insurance scheme in Zambia evokes mixed reactions

Source: Xinhua   2018-03-06 21:40:39

LUSAKA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Plans by the Zambian government to introduce a compulsory National Health Insurance Scheme has received mixed reactions from stakeholders, with critics saying it was another burden on the over-taxed citizens.

While the government has insisted that it will not back down in its resolve to introduce the scheme, critics have said it should be withdrawn to allow for more consultations.

The scheme will result in citizens from 18 years to 69 contributing towards the financing of health services.

The introduction of the scheme has gathered momentum, with the Health Insurance Bill passing through the second reading in parliament.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya says a comprehensive consultative process by government has revealed that the majority of Zambians have supported the scheme.

In a ministerial statement released in parliament, he said the government embarked on a six-year consultative process in 2012 to get views from stakeholders on the scheme which included research and study tours to ascertain the best way of implementing it.

According to him, the establishment of the scheme will mitigate the need for people to pay from their pockets each time they were sick, adding that studies revealed that it was feasible to implement the scheme in Zambia.

"However, the study shows that an exclusive scheme cannot stand on its own, and the decision, therefore, is to have a comprehensive single pool system to cover all Zambians," he said.

"The intent is to attain equity of access, cost-effective and quality health services as close to the family as possible," he added.

In its plan, the government will also provide subsidies to cover citizens who will be unable to contribute towards the scheme.

But the decision seems to have sparked sharp reactions from a cross section of society.

On March 1, lawmakers from the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) walked out of parliament when the National Health Insurance Bill was introduced for the second reading.

Garry Nkombo, the opposition party's chief whip told reporters outside parliament that the government wanted to over-tax citizens after failing to secure a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We would like to tie this particular tax to the government's failure to reach a deal with the IMF- they have failed to get the money they wanted from the IMF and they now want to mop up the money from the already over-taxed Zambians," he said.

And after the Bill was presented for the second reading, other opposition lawmakers pressed the executive to withdraw it and subject it to more consultations.

"In the form that this Bill has been presented, it's not desirable that it proceeds. For me I would even propose that probably we must even consider withdrawing it now," Ephraim Belemu, a lawmaker from the main opposition said.

For Nason Msoni, leader of the opposition All People's Congress party said the idea of a health scheme was doomed to fail as it has been tried and failed.

"In the past, citizens paid for these schemes but ended up with no medicines at the end of the treatment process. Citizens are sick and tired of criminally sponsored schemes using subsidiary legislation to legitimize theft and plunder of public resources," he said.

However, Chibamba Kanyama, a local economist while welcoming the idea of a health scheme, believes that it should not be introduced now because citizens were not in a position to absorb all the various taxes and levies within a short time.

According to him, the government should wait for the economy to start registering a healthy growth rate of more than 7 percent or introduce it in 2023 in order to give citizens a five-year window for preparations.

"In addition, government needs its own window to seal existing loopholes of financial abuse to public funds as shown by the Auditor General. The pilfered and mismanaged funds come from the existing taxes. There has to be evidence that the taxes already paid by citizens are properly managed," he said.

However, stakeholders in the health sector seem to have welcomed the idea saying it was a progressive idea which needs the support of everyone.

Aaron Mujajati, Registrar of the Health Professions Council of Zambia, said the council has received the idea with excitement because it will improve on the already existing financing mechanisms for health.

On the other hand, three public health sector unions have also embraced the scheme but have called for all the lacunas to be reconciled before the bill was enacted into law.

The Zambia Union of Nurses Organization, Health Workers Union of Zambia and the Zambia National Union of Health Workers however said in a joint statement that an independent fund manager should be appointed to manage the scheme.

"We feel that Ministry of Health should focus more on delivering quality health care providers than managing the scheme. We need to involve someone independent," the statement said.

Editor: Chengcheng
Related News
Home >> Africa            
Xinhuanet

Feature: Plans to introduce national health insurance scheme in Zambia evokes mixed reactions

Source: Xinhua 2018-03-06 21:40:39

LUSAKA, March 6 (Xinhua) -- Plans by the Zambian government to introduce a compulsory National Health Insurance Scheme has received mixed reactions from stakeholders, with critics saying it was another burden on the over-taxed citizens.

While the government has insisted that it will not back down in its resolve to introduce the scheme, critics have said it should be withdrawn to allow for more consultations.

The scheme will result in citizens from 18 years to 69 contributing towards the financing of health services.

The introduction of the scheme has gathered momentum, with the Health Insurance Bill passing through the second reading in parliament.

Minister of Health Chitalu Chilufya says a comprehensive consultative process by government has revealed that the majority of Zambians have supported the scheme.

In a ministerial statement released in parliament, he said the government embarked on a six-year consultative process in 2012 to get views from stakeholders on the scheme which included research and study tours to ascertain the best way of implementing it.

According to him, the establishment of the scheme will mitigate the need for people to pay from their pockets each time they were sick, adding that studies revealed that it was feasible to implement the scheme in Zambia.

"However, the study shows that an exclusive scheme cannot stand on its own, and the decision, therefore, is to have a comprehensive single pool system to cover all Zambians," he said.

"The intent is to attain equity of access, cost-effective and quality health services as close to the family as possible," he added.

In its plan, the government will also provide subsidies to cover citizens who will be unable to contribute towards the scheme.

But the decision seems to have sparked sharp reactions from a cross section of society.

On March 1, lawmakers from the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) walked out of parliament when the National Health Insurance Bill was introduced for the second reading.

Garry Nkombo, the opposition party's chief whip told reporters outside parliament that the government wanted to over-tax citizens after failing to secure a financing deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"We would like to tie this particular tax to the government's failure to reach a deal with the IMF- they have failed to get the money they wanted from the IMF and they now want to mop up the money from the already over-taxed Zambians," he said.

And after the Bill was presented for the second reading, other opposition lawmakers pressed the executive to withdraw it and subject it to more consultations.

"In the form that this Bill has been presented, it's not desirable that it proceeds. For me I would even propose that probably we must even consider withdrawing it now," Ephraim Belemu, a lawmaker from the main opposition said.

For Nason Msoni, leader of the opposition All People's Congress party said the idea of a health scheme was doomed to fail as it has been tried and failed.

"In the past, citizens paid for these schemes but ended up with no medicines at the end of the treatment process. Citizens are sick and tired of criminally sponsored schemes using subsidiary legislation to legitimize theft and plunder of public resources," he said.

However, Chibamba Kanyama, a local economist while welcoming the idea of a health scheme, believes that it should not be introduced now because citizens were not in a position to absorb all the various taxes and levies within a short time.

According to him, the government should wait for the economy to start registering a healthy growth rate of more than 7 percent or introduce it in 2023 in order to give citizens a five-year window for preparations.

"In addition, government needs its own window to seal existing loopholes of financial abuse to public funds as shown by the Auditor General. The pilfered and mismanaged funds come from the existing taxes. There has to be evidence that the taxes already paid by citizens are properly managed," he said.

However, stakeholders in the health sector seem to have welcomed the idea saying it was a progressive idea which needs the support of everyone.

Aaron Mujajati, Registrar of the Health Professions Council of Zambia, said the council has received the idea with excitement because it will improve on the already existing financing mechanisms for health.

On the other hand, three public health sector unions have also embraced the scheme but have called for all the lacunas to be reconciled before the bill was enacted into law.

The Zambia Union of Nurses Organization, Health Workers Union of Zambia and the Zambia National Union of Health Workers however said in a joint statement that an independent fund manager should be appointed to manage the scheme.

"We feel that Ministry of Health should focus more on delivering quality health care providers than managing the scheme. We need to involve someone independent," the statement said.

[Editor: huaxia]
010020070750000000000000011100001370203541
凤凰彩票 大发app 凤凰彩票app 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 大发彩票 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ii下载入口 乐发ll 乐发v平台 乐发v官网 乐发lll 乐发lv入口 乐发iv首页 乐发ll登录 乐发lv 乐发lll安装 乐发lv 乐发登录入口 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票登录 网信彩票 彩神 彩神彩票官方网站 彩神彩票官网首页 彩神官方app下载安卓版 凤凰彩票登录 彩神v3 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 快3官网 网信彩票 快3app 网信彩票平台 百姓彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3app下载 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票 每日彩票 快3app 百姓彩票平台 幸运5分彩快3 快3彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 大发10分PK10 快3下载 网信彩票平台 网信平台官网 快3彩票官网app 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 大发彩票app下载 百姓彩票网站网址 彩神购彩平台 每日彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 彩神彩票购彩平台 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票app下载 彩神官方app下载安卓版 网信快三 一分快3 快三彩票购彩平台 凤凰彩票官方 彩神彩票 大发10分PK10 彩神v3 凤凰彩票登录 乐发lv 乐发∨Il 百姓彩票网站网址 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发lll安装 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 一分快3 百姓彩票网站网址 凤凰彩票app下载 大发10分PK10 乐发2 乐发app 凤凰彩票 大发彩票app 乐发登录入口 乐发ll登录 乐发v官网 乐发官网 大发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票购彩平台 彩神彩票 官方正规快三彩票平台 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 乐发lll 乐发ii下载入口 乐发彩票官方网站 凤凰彩票官方网站 凤凰快3 彩神彩票官网首页 1分快三平台 百姓彩票平台 凤凰彩票登录 幸运5分彩快3 彩神 乐发彩票 乐发 大发彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发lv 凤凰彩票app 乐发app 网信彩票平台 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 凤凰彩票app 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 凤凰彩票app 网信彩票平台 乐发彩票app下载 乐发lv 乐发app 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票安卓下载 大发彩票 乐发彩票app下载 网信彩票平台 乐发iv游戏平台 彩神彩票 乐发彩票中心 极速快3彩票平台 人人快三凤凰 大发彩票app 大发彩票大全 乐发彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 乐发app 酷天堂彩票平台 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票大厅 凤凰彩票app 极速快3彩票平台 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 大发彩票app 网信彩票用户 百姓快三 百姓彩票平台 乐发lv 乐发彩票app下载 彩信平台 网信彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 乐发∨Il 人人快三凤凰 凤凰彩票 凤凰快3 乐发ll官网 乐发彩票中心 正规快三送彩金平台 凤凰彩票官方 乐发ll 乐发 网信彩票 彩神彩票 彩神彩票官方网站 人人快三凤凰 乐发彩票 彩神彩票 乐发iv游戏平台 乐发彩票 大发彩票中心 凤凰彩票登录 凤凰彩票app 彩神彩票 大发彩票 乐发ll 大发彩票app 凤凰快3 凤凰彩票 彩神彩票 乐发ll 凤凰彩票 乐发lll 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 彩神彩票 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 盈彩网投资平台 大发官网 一分时时彩 乐发lv 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发app 彩神iv 大发彩票app 大小单双平台 一分pk10 乐发lv 快盈彩票 乐发官网 快彩彩票 百姓彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 网信彩票 乐发彩票中心 网信快3 乐发 彩神xl 三分快3 大发彩票 大发官网 乐发lll 快3平台 凤凰快3 乐发ll 全民彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 百姓彩票 乐发彩票 乐发彩票官方网站 大发彩票 乐发 分分快3 彩神vl 55世纪 55世纪 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 乐发lv welcome凤凰彩票 乐发ll 1分快3 彩神 彩神ll 1分快3官网 1分快3的平台 welcome凤凰彩票 三分快3 彩神x 彩神vl 凤凰彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发官网 乐发ll 乐发lll 乐发lv 大发彩票app 大发彩票 乐发 乐发彩票 乐发彩票中心 凤凰快3 乐发彩票 彩神xl 腾讯快3 大发彩票 彩神xl 大发彩票 乐发彩票 大发彩票app 快3平台 乐发 1分快3 乐发彩票 彩神x 凤凰快3 彩神xl 彩吧助手 大发彩票app 快3平台 大发排列3 彩神iv 彩神vl 乐发IV 彩神x 一分pk10 大发排列3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 一分pk10 凤凰彩票 乐发Vll 大发官网 乐发ll 大发彩票 乐发1 凤凰快3 彩神vl 乐发lx 百姓彩票 乐发VI 彩神x 乐发IV 极速快3 乐发 凤凰快3 网信快3 乐发lv 快3彩票 乐发app下载 三分快3 快三平台助手 乐发彩票ll 彩神iv 乐发lll下载 盈彩网投资平台 乐发Ⅲ 凤凰彩票大厅 乐发lv 乐发lv 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 大发彩票 大发彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 乐发ll 凤凰彩票app下载 凤凰彩票 凤凰彩票 乐发lv 彩神x 乐发 乐发ll 极速快3 乐发lv 乐发彩票中心 快3彩票 凤凰彩票大厅 彩神x 凤凰彩票app 分分快3 网信彩票 网盟彩票 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票 乐发 快彩彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 乐发彩票 快3平台 百姓彩票 大小单双平台 凤凰快3 彩神xl 一分pk10 乐发lv 三分快3 大发彩票 极速快3 乐发ll 网信彩票 乐发lv 全民彩票 凤凰彩票app下载 快盈彩票 大发彩票app 大发官网 凤凰彩票 彩神iv 大发彩票 网信快3 凤凰彩票 百姓彩票