Worry as medical services costs rise

{A recent cabinet decision of increasing medical insurance premium in both public and private institutions for RAMA/RSSB by 25% and 15% for Military Medical Insurance (MMI) and private medical insurances has caused discomfort among members of the public, worried it is to eat into their savings as they foot the bills. Mituelle de santé was not affected. }

The spokesperson of Rwanda Defense Forces, Lt Col Rene Ngendahimana has told IGIHE that MMI won’t be affected.

“It is a decision taken based on different criteria including what is offered to avail health services especially at public hospitals. Regarding the case of MMI, it means the service formerly offered at Rwf 1000 will now set back consumers of medical services by another Rwf150 with the new changes,” he said.

Private operators in medical services have expressed worries that changes may affect their clientele.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of SORAS, Charles Butera has said that institutions offering health services have been holding discussions requesting the increase of prices for some services offered to patients.

“For us, we have categories where a person pays a particular amount seeking health care services while others don’t pay. This doesn’t regard anyone who doesn’t pay as the insurance company will have covered 100% of payments but the 15% will be increased to the cost,” he said.

Butera explained that the price changes come at a time when some customers’ contracts had not yet expired adding that much attention will be drawn next time before extending contracts.

“We will wait for contracts to expire; but this will affect our operations because we will have to respect the changes yet we didn’t plan for it earlier,” he said.

As he concluded the civic education for health workers on 4th December 2016, Premier Anastase Murekezi announced that the cost of health services was set to rise by December to match demand quality services.

The permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, Dr Jean Pierre Nyemazi has told IGIHE that the rise of health cost won’t affect patients since increased percentage will be covered by insurance companies.

“Patients won’t be affected because the increased price will be covered by medical insurance to which people are affiliated. That is why we encourage people again to join medical insurance,” he said.