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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
UHC offers financial risk protection, improved quality of services for citizens by spreading costs across the population
By Matt Maura, BIS
Jun 20, 2016 - 4:57:46 PM
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NASSAU, The Bahamas-- The implementation of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in The Bahamas through National Health Insurance (NHI) will not only help the country achieve even better healthcare results, but can also help to reverse poverty brought on by “catastrophic medical bills” in some instances.
According to studies conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), catastrophic medical bills force between 100 and 150 million of global citizens below the poverty line every year.
“While many governments are working hard to lift people out of poverty, these efforts can be offset when the health system and its UHC are intrinsically country owned,” Minister of Health Dr. the Hon. Michael Perry Gomez said.
“In this period of time in which we live, the climate is changing. Antibiotics are failing and healthcare costs are soaring. Inequalities in income levels, opportunities and access to social services – both within and between countries – have reached the highest levels seen in nearly a century.
“UHC offers financial risk protection that pools funds through tax, other government revenues and/or insurance contributions to spread the financial risks of illness across the population and allow for cross-subsidy from rich to poor and from healthy to ill, increased access to both needed services and financial risk protection.
“If people have to pay most of the costs out of their own pockets, the poor will be unable to obtain many of the services they need and even the rich will be exposed to financial hardship in the event of severe or long-term illness,” Dr. Gomez continued.
“Universal Health Coverage means that all people can use the promotive, preventative, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need of sufficient quality, to be effective while also ensuring that the use of these services does not expose the user to financial hardship.”
Dr. Gomez said achieving UHC requires a good health financing system.
“NHI is that financing system that shares the costs and benefits of quality healthcare among all members (who) share the costs by making contributions based on ability to pay. Government assists by paying for children and low-income persons.”
Dr. Gomez said countries such as the United Kingdom and Canada, who have “truly achieved” Universal Health Coverage have achieved better health outcomes over the past 20 years.
He said UHC requires “key interventions” that address the most important causes of disease and mortality. A main objective of UHC is for the quality of health services to be good enough to improve the health of those receiving services.”
“To work well, it must be home grown in line with each country’s culture, domestic and political institutions, the legacy of the existing health system and the expectations of citizens,” Dr. Gomez said.
“Inter-ministerial collaboration is critical. It makes it easier to address the upstream causes of ill health through environmental improvements and the use of fiscal and regulatory measures to encourage healthy lifestyle,” Dr. Gomez added.
Dr. Gomez said Universal Health Coverage is one of the most powerful social equalizers among all policy options.
“It is the ultimate expression of fairness. If public health has something that can help our troubled, out of balance world, it is the growing evidence that well-functioning and inclusive health systems contribute to social cohesion, equity and stability. They hold societies together and help reduce social tensions,” Dr. Gomez added.
The Health Minister said as the world enters the post-2015 Development era, it faces health challenges that are far more complex than they were at the start of the century. He said the sharp distinctions between health problems in wealthy and developing countries are dissolving.
“Universally, health is being shaped by the same universal pressures; the globalized marketing of unhealthy products, population ageing and rapid urbanization. Our very definition of what constitutes socio-economic progress is being challenged.”
Dr. Gomez said today, the tables “are turned.”
“Instead of diseases vanishing as living conditions improve, socio-economic progress is actually creating the conditions that favour the rise of non-communicable diseases. The old burden of deaths from infectious diseases has been joined by a newer burden of even more deaths from NCDs. Deaths from road traffic accidents and the mental disorders, substance abuse and violence, have added to the burden of disease.”
Dr. Gomez said implementation of UHC through NHI will address these matters.
“It will take some time, for UHC was not achieved in all countries overnight, but The Bahamas can take action to move more rapidly towards it or to maintain the gains we have already made.
“Countries must have a healthy workforce that can support an affordable, efficient, well-run health system that meets priority health needs through quality, people-centred, integrated care.
“In this regard, my Ministry is working to ensure that healthcare is equitable and accessible to every Bahamian,” Dr. Gomez added.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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