rwanda vs usa: rwanda FTW (in health)

one of our CHWs here at Mayange

I came across a great blog post on the NY Times about Rwanda's national health insurance system. It gives a great, succinct background of where the country was beginning from (basically, rubble) to where it is now with its VOLUNTARY (i.e., opt-in) national health insurance scheme (called mutuelle) that has had amazing health outcomes over the last 9 years, since it was launched nation-wide.

Malaria — a major killer of children — is also now treated. “People were waiting for a long time to go and access care because it was very expensive,” said Makaka. A clinic visit before was 5,000 francs — about $8.30. “By the time they accessed care malaria became so severe some lost their lives or became disabled.” Today, malaria is usually diagnosed by a community health worker. She can give the first dose of an effective medicine right away, then send the patient to a health clinic for a visit that will cost a maximum of 33 cents.

The increase in clients and the payments from Mutuelle they bring has transformed hospitals. Without income, hospitals couldn’t pay doctors or buy equipment. Now that hospitals can pay, doctors and nurses are moving from cities to the countryside. “Before there was a marked concentration in cities,” said Makaka. “Now there’s equitable distribution across the nation.”