The cost of delay: The urgent need for a national health insurance scheme in Uganda

There’s this common adage among social groups: “An average Ugandan is one medical bill away from poverty” It’s not just a saying; it’s a stark reality we’ve all witnessed. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare this vulnerability, forcing families to liquidate their meager assets for a chance at treatment, leaving many stranded and neglected in hospitals…

A mother lying on a bare floor at Kayunga pediatric ward, Uganda. Photo: Vincent Mayanja/IRIN