By Esther Wright
Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, Vice President of Sierra Leone, on the 4th August, 2021 hosted and chaired the inter-ministerial committee meeting on Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance Scheme (SLESHI) to discuss progress in the operationalization of the scheme. In attendance were the Chief Minister and other Ministers.
In his opening statement he outlined the importance of SLESHI stating that it is the vision of President Julius Maada Bio to provide affordable health care to Sierra Leoneans and the scheme is a huge step in that direction.
SLESHI is a social health insurance scheme for Sierra Leoneans that focuses on the reduction of “out of pocket” expenditure on medicals. It aims at improving access to quality medical services for all and to improve equity in medical services.
Dr. Austin Demby, the Minister of Health and Sanitation revealed how the scheme revolves around how the Government can improve the health care system of the country and to develop a health insurance scheme that will enhance public access to quality health care service in order to reduce “out of pocket” healthcare expenditure for the people.
He furthered that the scheme will require members to pay minimal amounts as contributions that will enable Government provide quality medical services to members when they become ill without rendering them poor.
He said the Scheme is targeting the general populace in various categories including the formal and informal sectors as well as create a safety net for the most vulnerable group especially the aged.
He furthered that the scheme is an instrument used to gain universal access to quality health service for all.
The Minister of Labor and Social Security Osman Alpha Timbo Esq. said the health insurance scheme is part of Social Protection adding that, the minimum standards for social security is contained in the Social Security Minimum Standards Convention 102 which gives provision for nine contingencies in social security.
He noted that Government had covered part of the nine contingencies which are old age, invalidity and death and survivor’s benefit under NASSIT, and that going forward, Government is looking into health insurance.
He continued that the scheme will entail the employee and employer’s contributions and a well defined benefit to be covered by the scheme which will be guided by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation.
