Chapter Twelve - Sustainability of Health Policy in Rwanda

Summary

Introduction

This chapter examines the nature of health policies in Rwanda and how the nation's government has been effective in improving mobility, and mortality rates over the past two decades. It argues that there is a need for policymakers in other African countries to acknowledge the complexity and dynamics of the health system factors that may affect the fabric of their respective societies and culture of good healthcare delivery management. The research method used for collecting data for this chapter includes the review of secondary data from government documents from the World Health Organization and several academic journals. The research analysis reveals that enhancing the healthcare delivery system in Rwanda will require shifting resources such as funds and political commitment to address the needs of the citizens of the country. The Republic of Rwanda has effectively formulated and implemented healthcare policies to accomplish the highest percentage of enrolment into the health insurance system in the African continent. The finding of the research analysis also reveals that a vibrant community health insurance system, universal health coverage, and enhanced health workers’ capacity as well as high-quality assurance mechanism and managerial skills, which were adopted, constitute the major factors that have contributed to the nation's remarkable healthcare delivery accomplishments. The research also reveals that a universal health system could be a prominent political and most compatible coalition ideology that other African nations could use to shape their social protection and health delivery system. This is because some of the administrative and intervention techniques, which were implemented, require more comprehensive and holistic techniques. Thus, it is paramount for health administrators and policymakers as well as workers to be mindful of the complexity of health systems and the dynamics of any society or nation that may be planning to adopt such health insurance scheme. Some recommendations were provided on how to galvanize the culture of performance management in the health sector of Rwanda.

Brief History of Rwanda

The Republic of Rwanda is a country located in the Great Rift Valley of Central Africa. The country is regarded as a landlocked nation because it does not have access to the Atlantic Ocean.