Low-Cost Health Insurance Soon Available in Senegal

Low-cost health insurance is about to be available to students and informal sector employees in Senegal through a World Bank Program. Nearly two-thirds of all Senegalese are unable to get health insurance, many of these people fall into debt when they get sick or suffer an accident.
低价医疗保险即将通过一个世界银行项目向塞内加尔的学生和非正式部门雇员提供。近三分之二的塞内加尔人无法获得医疗保险,其中很多人在生病或遭受意外事故时陷入债务。

The World Bank Group's International Finance Cooperation is working with the International Center for Development & Research to provide the insurance. The bank says it plans to offer low-cost, private health insurance plans in Senegal as part of the area's first private co-pay program.
世界银行集团国际金融公司同国际发展研究中心开展合作来提供这项保险。世行表示,该行计划在塞内加尔提供低价民营医疗保险方案,作为该地区首份民营共同支付项目的一部分。

Tiphaine Crenn is an operations officer at the IFC. He says health insurance through private companies is very costly in the West African nation. He says about 65 percent of people in Senegal do not have any health care coverage.
Tiphaine Crenn是国际金融公司的一位运营官员。他说,西非国家民营企业提供的健康保险非常昂贵。他说,大约65%的塞内加尔人没有任何医疗保险。

In Senegal, only civil service employees or workers at companies with more than 50 employees, are able to receive health care coverage. Mr. Crenn said this means many people take out loans to pay for the cost of health care. He says this can empty a family savings.
在塞内加尔,只有公务员和员工50人以上公司的雇员能够获得医疗保险。Crenn先生说,这意味着很多人要贷款支付医疗费用。他说这会让一个家庭花光所有积蓄。

The IFC says that it will work with six private Senegalese insurance companies to share the costs of health risks. It says it will offer micro-healthcare products at well below normal costs.
国际金融公司表示,它将与6家塞内加尔民营保险公司展开合作,共同承担健康风险成本。它将以远低于正常成本的价格提供微型医疗保健产品。

Mr. Crenn said other health care plans can cost between $500 and $600 a year in Senegal, and are difficult to get. The IFC program will offer plans as low as $16 per year.
Crenn先生说,塞内加尔的其它医疗保健方案需要花费500到600美元一年,并且很难获得。国际金融公司的该项目将提供低至每年16美元的方案。

Although plans that include hospital visits will cost up to $60 per year. Students can get basic health care and pharmacy services if they get injured at school or on the way to school for just $3 per year.
虽然包括就诊在内的方案将花费高达60美元一年。学生们可以以每年3美元的价格获得在校或上学途中所受伤害的基本医疗和药房服务。

In exchange for these yearly fees, people will receive a health card that requires them to make payments of equal to 20 percent of normal treatment or medication costs. Mr. Crenn says such a system could change the future of health care in Africa.
作为这些年费的交换,人们将获得一张医疗卡,该医疗卡使得人们只需支付正常治疗或药物费用的20%。Crenn先生说,该体系可能会改变非洲医疗保健的未来。

He said if the system really works, it could provide a lesson for West Africa. Mr. Crenn said the pilot program plans to target around 108,000 people during the first year in Dakar.
他说,如果该体系确实有效,就能为西非提供一些经验。Crenn先生说,在第一年期间,该试点方案计划针对达喀尔市大约10.8万人。

The program is expected to expand to Senegal's Thies and St. Louis areas. After that the program may be offered in neighboring countries.
该项目预计将扩大到塞内加尔的捷斯和圣路易斯地区。在此之后,该项目可能会推广到邻近国家。