Uganda Medical Credit Facility

Ministry of Health is committed to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage for Uganda in line with the National Development Plan II, Health Financing Strategy and the Health Sector Development Plan 2015/16 – 2020/21, both of which subscribe to the Sustainable Development Goal 3 and translate into Uganda’s Vision 2040. The Declaration of Astana from the Global Conference on Primary Health Care, signed in October 2018 reiterates His Excellency President Yoweri K. Museveni’s desire for Ministry of Health to support community-level inclusion in addressing health sector challenges. Private Health Practitioners (PHP) are therefore instrumental in complementing the Government’s effort in meeting the population’s health needs.

The 2010 World Bank study “a Fiscal Space for Health in Uganda” states that, apart from the size of the private sector, the utilization of private health facilities is substantial. An estimated 46% of Ugandans who needed and sought healthcare did so from a PHF, followed by 22% who sought care from a government health unit, 13% from a drug store or pharmacy 7% from a government hospital, 4% from a NGO health unit and only 2% from a NGO hospital. The share of out of pocket expenses in the country confirms this image: 37% of health expenditures come from out of pocket payments, amounting to an average of US $ 20 per capita spending and claiming over 9% of total household income.

Background;

• A significant number of health consumers use private health providers (PHP), especially in rural areas
• PHP face financing constraints and challenges as try to provide quality services
• Financial institutions are reluctant to loan PHP due to limited business skills, weak systems, lack credit history, unconventional collateral.
• PHPs when receive loans encounter unfavourable loan conditions: High-interest rates, short loan tenure, high collateral requirements, no TA.