On February 24, 2025, in the Kinigi Sector of Musanze District, residents were briefed on new changes to the community-based health insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) regarding contribution payments and additional diseases that will now be covered.
This day also marked the 25th anniversary since the Government of Rwanda launched the universal health insurance program. The initiative aims to help all Rwandans access healthcare without exclusion.
The Mayor of Musanze District, Claudien Nsengimana, commended the residents for embracing the Mutuelle program and encouraged them to continue saving for their premiums through informal savings groups (ibimina), so that by July, everyone will have the funds ready to begin accessing treatment immediately.
He stated: “What we ask of the citizens is to start saving early through groups and ibimina, so that by July 1st, everyone has completed their contribution, allowing them to access healthcare whenever they need it.”
He continued: “These changes are part of a program to reform health services, which includes increasing the number of doctors, ensuring medicine availability at health centers and hospitals, and improving service delivery to the public.”
He further explained that categorization is based on information provided by the residents themselves, which is entered into the social welfare system. However, anyone misplaced in a category that does not reflect their living standards can approach local authorities at the Cell or Sector level for advocacy and list adjustments.
Residents of Musanze District expressed their appreciation for the expanded capacity of Mutuelle, hoping it will solve previous challenges such as buying medicine outside hospitals or selling property to cover medical bills.
Nyiranziza Foromene said: “There were times when a person would fall ill and be given a prescription to buy medicine outside the hospital because of limited means. Some even reached the point of selling their land to pay for treatment. Now, we are told that the money we contribute will help us treat various diseases that were previously not covered by Mutuelle.”
Harerimana Gauston added that residents now clearly understand the program and believe it will improve healthcare.
He said: “There was a time when treating certain diseases required a lot of money, forcing someone to sell their land, but now they have made it easier for us. There was also the issue of medicine shortages at hospitals where one would look for drugs and fail to find them, but now I feel the citizen is moving toward a better situation. I see that the government is being fair because they have explained it well.”
Medical services added to the Mutuelle insurance coverage include kidney transplants, cancer treatment, heart surgery, knee replacements, hip replacements, spinal surgery, dialysis, surgery for severe injuries resulting from major accidents, prosthetics and orthotics, as well as blood products and certain essential medicines that were previously not covered by Mutuelle.
