Kagame was speaking yesterday at the High-Level segment on Universal Health Coverage at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
He said that the data show that catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditures are an increasing source of impoverishment in Africa though not yet to the extent seen in other regions.
He said that the insolvency may reflect the fact that many life-saving services are not yet widely available.
“As service coverage in Africa expands the financial risks for citizens will also increase unless adequate protection measures are in place for the most vulnerable,” he said.
Kagame noted that achieving Universal Health Coverage is feasible for countries at every income level.
“It is also the right thing to do. Strong political leadership will certainly be necessary at every stage,” he urged.
{{Rwanda’s experience}}
All around Africa and beyond Kagame said that whenever countries have put universal, community-based primary health systems in place, the results have been good.
In Rwanda he said that a combination of community-based health insurance, community health workers and good external partnerships led to the steepest reductions in child and maternal mortality ever recorded.
“The key was an approach that put individuals and communities at the centre. In choosing this path Rwanda learned from others who preceded us and we also benefited greatly from advice and support from the World Health Organisation,” he said.
“Integrating digital applications and new technologies into our health system has also made a difference and we are now using drone aircraft to quickly deliver blood and medical supplies to rural hospitals,” he said.
Kagame said that more than 90% of Rwandans are enrolled in health insurance today. He said that two-thirds of the costs are covered by contributions from beneficiaries with government subsidising the remaining one-third.
“At one point we realised that enrolment was falling because the reliability of services in some places had declined. The challenge was addressed and confidence restored by shifting to electronic payments for insurance premiums and segregating health funds from other accounts at the local level,” he noted.
The Head of State said that Rwanda continues to expand network of volunteer Community Health Workers who are present in every village and serve as an essential link between the population and health facilities.
Kagame said that when the means to succeed and the responsibility for doing so are put directly in the people’s hands, they save lives and become sustainable.
He reminded that Universal Health Coverage leads to future-mindedness and entrepreneurship as it frees people to plan for the future with confidence, and families invest the savings in businesses and in better-quality education for their children.
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