LHRC commends govt for coming up with UHC bill

THE Legal and Human Rights Centre (LHRC) has hailed the government for coming up with the Universal Health Coverage Bill 2022 that will see all members of the public having guaranteed health services.

The compliment was given on Monday in Dar es Salaam by the LHRC Executive Director Ms Anna Henga while giving an analysis of the bill that will be debated and enacted into law in the fourth meeting of the 12th Parliament which kicked off yesterday.

“We commend the government for coming up with the bill which aims at ensuring that all citizens have access to health services, thus reducing the burden and costs of treatment incurred by people who have no health insurance,” said Ms Henga.

She further asked the government to amend some sections with contradictions because they may result into violation of human rights or cause challenges during implementation of the law.

Ms Henga said in the health insurance bill for all, there are sections which deny some people their rights. She said the law targets poor people but it has not specified the criteria for a poor person.

She also said that section 32 denies people access to other services if they have not joined the health insurance, such as getting national IDs, driving license, passport or visa or business license.

The section also restrict form five, six and university students from being registered if they have not enrolled to the health insurance.

Also, section 37 recommends directors and managers of various companies be criminally responsible if an employee in the institution does not have health insurance, while section 13 gives the insurance fund authority to nullify the private health insurance scheme after violating registration terms.

In terms of the personal information protection bill 2022, Ms Henga said the bill has oppressive articles that deprive a person from their basic rights if any

Commenting on the Personal Data Protection Bill of 2022, Ms Henga said the bill has oppressive articles that deprive a person to get their basic rights, such as giving the commission more power to question or take any device containing personal information related to complaints raised.

“The LHRC recommends that the government should remove some sections which deny a person access to his basic right because many articles prevent a person from getting their basic right, which is against human rights,” said Ms Henga.