In a bid to identify creative ways to finance universal health coverage through Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI), the Government of Rwanda in July 2019 gazetted a Prime Minister’s Order establishing various sources of revenue to subsidise the scheme for its sustainability.
Among others, the PM’s Order established a 2.5% levy on annual turnovers of telecommunications companies for the first two years, which is to increase to 3% in the third year and thereafter.
MTN Rwanda has led the way in complying with this new legislation, cementing its commitment to contributing to the development of Rwanda and building a legacy of changing lives within the communities where it operates.
In relation to the rates established by the Prime Minister’s Order, MTN Rwanda will pay out a total of Rwf1,363,442,690 by the end of December 2019.
In addition to this, MTN Rwanda has paid Rwf50 million through its Corporate Social Responsibility to further contribute to achieving universal health coverage.
Speaking about this contribution, MTN Rwanda CEO, Mitwa Ng’ambi said, “In line with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal of achieving good health and well-being, MTN Rwanda is committed to contributing to the betterment of the health of millions of Rwandans. We are all about making a positive and sustainable impact in Rwanda so that we can be better together.”
Mutuelle de Santé is a community-based health insurance scheme established in 2002 and managed by the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) since 2015.
The Prime Minister’s Order came after Government of Rwanda’s commitment to spend an additional Rwf6 billion on Mutuelle de Santé through direct budget financing every year.
“As the Government continues to push for increased accessibility to high quality healthcare for all, the cost on the scheme increases. As a result, it was necessary to find creative ways to finance it for which we are grateful to the Government’s support and to the actors who are coming out to comply with the obligations,” RSSB Deputy Director General in charge of Benefits Dr. Hakiba Solange said.
Financing sources established by the Prime Minister’s Order come to increase financing for the CBHI scheme without increasing the healthcare cost for very many Rwandans.
“We would like to remind all Rwandans to continue paying their Mutuelle de Santé subscriptions on time to ensure they access healthcare without hindrance because a health body is the basis for everything,” Dr. Hakiba added.
Besides complying with the new Prime Minister’s Order, MTN Rwanda has always been a strong partner in facilitating universal health coverage, and the commitment remains.
“We recognise health care challenges and we are committed to being part of the solution. Our collaboration with the Government of Rwanda and RSSB is part of the greater good – we’re pleased to work together to create a brighter Rwanda,” concluded Mrs Ng’ambi.
