Cancer is still the leading cause of mortality in Rwanda, with breast cancer being the most prevalent form. According to Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), about 700 people are diagnosed with cancer every year, 14 percent of whom have breast cancer.

While treatment costs remain high, the government has taken steps to make cancer care more accessible, by fully covering cancer treatment under the community-based health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Santé.

"Recently, we were very happy as the health sector when the cabinet approved that cancer treatment is going to be covered 100% by our community health insurance system. It means a lot to the communities because cancer management is very expensive, especially for poor families,” Dr. Sabin Nsanzimana, the Minister of Health, said at the ongoing Africa Health Agenda International Conference (AHAIC).

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Dr. Nsanzimana emphasized that the initiative will improve survival rates, particularly for breast cancer patients, as early detection and timely treatment enhance outcomes.

Sustainable funding for cancer care

To finance the expanded coverage, the government is leveraging multiple revenue streams.

"Funding for this initiative is sourced from various sectors, including contributions from the banking industry, telecommunications companies, and fines collected from traffic violations,” Dr. Nsanzimana said.

The minister explained that, for the first time, the banking sector will allocate funds to Mutuelle de Santé, alongside continued contributions from telecom companies and a portion of traffic fines.

Dr. Nsanzimana said that breast cancer, when detected early, is among the most manageable types. Encouraging self-examinations and regular screenings, as noted, will be crucial in improving early diagnosis rates.

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However, he acknowledged that late-stage diagnoses remain a challenge, making treatment more complex and costly. He called on policymakers, healthcare providers, researchers, and the media to intensify awareness efforts.

Breast cancer is not only a concern for Rwanda. It is a major health challenge across Africa. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), five in 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa don’t survive beyond five years, compared to a survival rate of over 90 percent in high-income countries.

Experts stress that public-sector efforts alone are insufficient and urge a collaborative approach involving private stakeholders, NGOs, and policymakers.

Role of partnerships

During an interview with The New Times, on March 4, Dr. Miriam Mutebi, a breast cancer surgeon and President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), stressed the need for sustainable cancer care financing.

She noted that funding surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy has helped more patients complete their treatment, but a systematic investment approach is needed.

"Policymakers should view cancer funding not as an expense but as an investment in lives and productivity,” Dr. Mutebi said, adding that no single entity can tackle the issue alone. She advocated for regional collaborations to create cost-effective solutions.

"Through AORTIC, efforts are underway to bring policymakers, patients, and oncology professionals, together to explore sustainable resource allocation.”

Dr. Mutebi also talked about the efficient use of resources.

"We often talk about resource shortages, but the issue is how we use them. Misuse, overuse, or underuse, must be addressed to ensure value-based care and affordable quality treatment,” she said.

She urged governments to focus on making essential treatments universally accessible rather than solely investing in expensive new drugs.

Dr. Mutebi recommended a unified approach to pharmaceutical negotiations, suggesting, "Drug prices vary across Africa. Why not negotiate collectively as a regional alliance to reduce costs?”

Additionally, she called for investment in oncology training to expand the workforce and ensure high-quality treatment across the continent.

Multisectoral approach to cancer treatment

A panel discussion highlighted the need for financial collaboration to sustain cancer care. Combining resources through memorandums of understanding between governments and private entities was proposed as a sustainable approach.

However, panellists noted that relying on a single funding source is not enough. NGOs, advocacy groups, and multiple stakeholders must be engaged to track patients, raise awareness, and ensure continued care, it was noted.

Expanding financial capacity through cost-sharing mechanisms was another key point.

"Access to treatment goes beyond medical care; it must also address emotional and practical challenges. Community engagement plays a key role in dispelling myths, reducing stigma, and providing support networks for patients,” a panellist noted.

Strengthening healthcare infrastructure is also necessary to ensure that geographical barriers do not determine whether a patient receives treatment.