The day’s validation held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba International Conference Centre, Bijilo, comes following series of stakeholder engagements and forums over the last three months designed to review the national Essential Health Care Package (EHCP).
Thus the National Health Insurance Scheme Health Benefit Package will be a prioritised set of interventions drawn from the national Essential Health Care Package (EHCP).
At the validation, Dr. Lumbwe Chola, a consultant, acknowledged the level of commitment shown by authorities, something he added, has been exemplary, adding that since the start of the process, they have engaged stakeholders from all sectors.
“And each time we call on them they are eager to participate and provide evidence.”
This, he said, shows their seriousness and the urgency towards providing good quality care for the population of the Gambia.
“So, I commend The Gambia for embarking on this process. It is a very difficult long road. Providing health care is not easy for a population, as there are some many different things to cater to and given the limited resources. There is no country in this world that has all the resources to provide all the care that is needed. So, we have to make tough choices about what to provide and who to provide care for.”
Dr. Melvin George, board chairman of the National Health Insurance Scheme, hailed consultant and stakeholders for a job well done, adding that the presentations were excellent.
“Really, it gives me a lot of encouragement that we are now trying to come together for the benefit of all.”
The report in itself, he added, gives them a lot of scenarios and also serves as food for thought within the financial space available. “There is no way that it is going to be easy because at the end of the day, it is all about choices.”
Dr. George however, calls for an intensive dialogue with the Ministry of Finance and key stakeholders to ensure the smooth implementation of services. He equally called for prioritisation of services at the Health Ministry and coordination to ensure quality services.
Dr. Desta Tiruneh, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), expressed delight at the progress made thus far ahead of the launch of the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme.
The WHO rep indicated that the overall objective of the exercise is to reach out as much as possible to the general populace in terms of access to affordable health care service.
He acknowledged that resources are limited while stressing the need to prioritise the most urgent and important and pressing needs amid limited resources.
Muhammed Lamin Jaiteh, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Health, spoke highly of the National Health Insurance Scheme and the benefits people stand to ggain once it is finalised.
PS Jaiteh described the validation exercise as yet another important step by the Ministry and the country’s sustainable drive towards the ultimate attainment of the National Health Insurance Scheme.
“I could remember sometime ago we met here in this very hall to witness the start of the process of developing the National Health Care Benefit Package and on from that date among issues that came to light was the fact that the health insurance scheme development would have to go with the undertaking of difficult choices and decisions. And so to be able to make concrete and conscious decisions, you need clear cut information and direction to be able to make those choices.”
