Scoping visit and policy review for Rwanda Social Security Board
This project responds to a request from the Director-General of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), the body that finances the bulk of the private and public healthcare in the country. Rwanda has a unique healthcare system where financing relies on a combination of social health insurance, community health insurance, government subsidies for low-income households, private health insurance, and patients. The RSSB is deeply embedded into the Rwandan economy and has provided substantial financial buoyancy to the Rwandan banking and construction sector, and its programmes are critical to protecting the welfare of citizens.
The RSSB currently manages five schemes:
- the pension scheme
- health insurance scheme
- maternal benefits scheme
- an occupational hazard program
- long-term savings scheme
The RSSB’s goal is to increase contributions, maximise revenues from investments, provide quality services, modernise RSSB Information Technology Systems, extend coverage, combat fraud and reviewing and update laws and related orders. But while the system is highly innovative and focused on the right issues, it faces rising healthcare costs (18% growth per year) coupled with low enrolment (only 2% growth per year).
This project reviews key aspects of the health insurance system and pension system, with the objective of identifying immediate actions that will lay the basis for a more sustainable system. It will be predicated upon an analysis of the current financing situation of the RSSB and germane international experience and research from other countries. This will take the form of a final report, coupled with a 1 to 2-year IGC-RSSB research agenda. The findings will be shared with the Director-General of the RSSB and are expected to inform the annual objectives of the institution.
