The Senegalese Minister of Labour, Social Dialogue and Relations with Institutions, M. Samba Sy on Monday February 28, 2022 hosted Sierra Leone Social Health Insurance (SLeSHI) delegation led by the Hon. Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh.
The Sierra Leone delegation was in Senegal on a learning mission on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Health Insurance, as the country works towards rolling out a sustainable health insurance scheme in Sierra Leone.
The Hon. Vice President while thanking the Senegalese Labor Minister for hosting them, explained the purpose of their study tour and the relevance of the Labor Ministry to their study.
Receiving the Sierra Leone delegation, the Senegalese Labor Minister, Samba Sy expressed delight to host the delegation to explain how they have managed social insurance and health schemes.
The Sierra Leone’s Minister of Labor and Industrial Relations, Alpha O. Timbo was keen to understand how his counterpart have managed health care insurance for workers, relationship with the unions and the role of the ministry of health.
Responding, the Director General Labor and Social Security, Karim Cisse’ said Senegal’s experience on social security began in 1975 with the implementation of a compulsory medical insurance which later moved to a health insurance.
He said they began with contributions from workers and employers to specifically cover sickness emanating from their work.
The Director General said that in 2012, Senegal reformed the social security sector by reinforcing the institutions enabling government to contribute a fund guaranteeing its proper functioning, and also government creating an agency to manage universal health care. He revealed the creation of specific schemes for the formal and informal sectors and a national social insurance scheme created by the ministry of labor.
There were discussions on how the decentralization units in the regions and the collaboration with the labour unions, and also how is revenue generated. They also discussed experiences with the private sectors in the implementation of universal health care; financing, accreditation to trade unions, complaint mechanisms and the relationship with the health care providers.
Sierra Leone establishes 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 improved equity in medical services.
Part of the Sierra Leone delegation includes the Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Austin Demby; the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations, Mr. Alpha O. Timbo; the Financial Secretary, Sahr L. Jusu; the Deputy Director General NASSIT, Mr. Mohamed Gondoe; Dr. Machael Amara- Lead Consultant SLeSHI; the SLeSHI Consultant Ms. Juliet Laverly; Francis C. Kallon, Deputy Labor Commissioner, Ministry of Labor and Industrial Relations. The study tour continues with other relevant institutions.
By Ishmael Bayoh, Information Attachè,
Sierra Leone Embassy Dakar, Senegal