ABSTRACT
This study is about the contribution of Mutual Health
Insurance on the economic development in Ruganda sector as a case of study. The
study was carried out in Ruganda sector and its objective are as follows: To
Examine the functioning of Mutual health insurance scheme in Ruganda sector; to
find out the impact of improved health status of the people on Economic
development in Ruganda sector, to identify the challenges encountered by both
mutual health officials and the beneficiaries of mutual health insurance in
Ruganda sector. In order to arrive to the findings, the researcher used
structured questionnaires and the interview guide to collect data.
The population of the study was comprised both beneficiaries
of mutual health insurance and staffs at the sector and cell levels in Ruganda
sector. These questionnaires were given to 30 respondents including fourteen
questionnaires (14) which include six heads of households (6); six agents (6)
of mutual health insurance and two patients (2) in health centre of Biguhu.
Sixteen questionnaires (16) designed to the staffs at sector and cell levels
and two nurses (2). A sample of 30 respondents was randomly selected.
Findings revealed that Mutual health insurance plays a big
role in the economic development process of the beneficiaries in Ruganda sector
through real costs of healthcare services costs minimization. Hence new
ventures were to be born through good management of mutual health insurance
contributions. At the end of the study, several suggestions were given to the
officials and beneficiaries of this policy of MHI scheme and
even suggestion for further research was proposed.
CHAPTER
ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1
Introduction
This chapter is detailed with background of the study, problem
statement, objectives of the study, purpose of the study, research questions,
significance of the study, organization of the study and conceptual
framework.
1.2 Background of the study
The concept of community health dates back in 1831-32 during
the great revolution in sanitation when cholera broke up in England. Cholera
caused panic and beneficiaries fled the cities and others had died during the
medieval plagues. It is a salutary reminder to the rich that they could not be
the privileged immunity that pestilence was something Shared by the poor and
therefore could be combated communally through community health. In many
African countries a considerable proportion of the population faces problems of
financial access to essential healthcare services. This holds especially
true for the informal sector and beneficiaries living in rural areas.
(Barry1965:322)
Community health insurance schemes have existed in Rwanda; it
was in the 1960s that community-based health insurance systems, like the
association Muvandimwe de Kibungo (1966) and the association Umubano mu bantu
de Butare (1975) started to be constituted. However, these community-based
health insurance initiatives were further developed only since the
reintroduction of the payment policy in 1996 and especially increase during the
past five years. Membership rates of Community Based Health
Insurance (CBHI) stood at 73% in 2006 and increased since then to
reach 91% of coverage in 2010. (The World Health Report (2000). WHO,
Geneva.)
Community health insurance schemes are normally local
community initiatives based on concepts of solidarity and risk pooling and
involve active participation of group members. They improve equity access to
healthcare for the excluded high level of solidarity, trust and finally improve
the ability to counter-risk, cover all healthcare cost. In order to enhance
healthcare coverage and provide financial protection against impoverishment due
to the costs of catastrophique illness, the Government of Rwanda has
implemented several financing mechanisms; (The World Health Report (2000). WHO,
Geneva.).
In addition to the Community Based Health Insurance Policy,
the present policy has been elaborated to provide a comprehensive guiding
framework for a National Health Insurance system in Rwanda. In 2010, the CBHI
policy has been updated in order to be more adapted to the current challenges.
The new policy was improving population's access to quality health services in
a fair and equitable manner. The existing statutory social security system in
Rwanda includes the Social Security Fund (pensions and occupational risks);
and, for the health part, the RAMA and the MMI. (World Bank (2003), Washington,
DC.).
The Ruganda sector has shown a strong interest in
strengthening the structure and capacity of public institutions in providing
social security through healthcare services. The sector is striving to achieve
set targets for MDGs despite this being an uphill task considering that
economic development level prevailing in the country is still low. In Ruganda
this policy is in and most of them are the client. Financially, the health
institutions can develop themselves and auto finance because the payment of the
premium at the right time in a collective system, health institutions can
procure enough materials and medicines in order to effectively continue serving
the beneficiaries.
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