For the past few years, the national community-based health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Santé, has been known for bad news, like underperformance, among others. However, it is heartening to learn that the scheme is starting to shine again after recording an increase in subscription rates over the past four to five months. According to the scheme’s managers, the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), subscription figures are now at 79 per cent of the targeted beneficiaries, up from 63 per cent in September last year. Better still, the present performance is the best in three years.

The development means that the majority of Rwandans, especially the poor, can now access medical care. More often, people fall sick but do not seek health attention due to lack of money, which affect people’s productivity and ultimately costs the economy dearly.

Morbidity is one of the factors that slow growth, a reason why schemes like Mutuelle de Santé are essential to development goals of any country. It is, therefore, imperative that community leaders at different levels support RSSB efforts and encourage Rwandans to ‘religiously’ subscribe for Mutuelle to cushion themselves from any eventualities in the event they fall sick.

The involvement of local leaders is essential because some people still don’t understand why they have to acquire health insurance, and need to be sensitised.

Though RSSB has registered a 16 per cent growth in subscription rates since taking over the management of the scheme in July last year, they cannot rest on their laurels. Campaigns aimed at encouraging more people to subscribe to the scheme should continue and be strengthened. Mutuelle subscription plummeted to 63 per cent last year, from 80.7 per cent 2012/13 fiscal year, and 90.7 per cent in 12, amid mismanagement of the funds that led to delayed or non-payment of service providers.

So the new managers should ensure proper management and accountability to avoid repeat of past mistakes. Otherwise, one can only wish RSSB the best and hope that the scheme managers will make it more vibrant, relevant and user-friendly.