Rwanda
Located in East Africa, Rwanda is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley with an estimated population of 12.5 million. Rwanda adopted the universal healthcare coverage model and has made huge strides in providing care through its community-based health insurance scheme, Mutuelles de Sante.
Cancer care
Rwanda has experienced an increase in the number of cancer cases rising from 635 to 2,803 cases annually between 2007 and 2018. Cervical cancer is the most frequent cancer among women in Rwanda and WHO estimates a two-fold increase in the number of breast cancer cases by 2040.
Value-based healthcare in Rwanda
Aligned with the Blueprint for Innovative Healthcare Access programme for Rwanda, adoption of VBHC will act as a complimentary component for ‘saving and improving the lives of patients with cancer.’ Rwanda’s commitment to strengthening its healthcare system with a strong focus on NCDs qualifies it as an ideal candidate for adopting VBHC.
Frontline partners
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Partners in Health - Inshuti Mu Buzima
Inshuti Mu Buzima , is s an international non-profit organization founded in 1987 that helps build and sustain public health systems in underprivileged and underserved communities in ten countries around the world. At the invitation of the government, Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima began operating in Rwanda in 2005. Their mission is to support Rwanda in strengthening the health system to provide high quality care to all. We envision thriving communities of healthy, happy, and productive people, where social justice and universal quality health services are available.
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Center for Equity in Global Surgery, UGHE
The Center for Equity in Global Surgery, located within the University of Global Health Equity aims to create equitable access to quality, safe, and holistic surgical, obstetric, and anesthesia care for vulnerable populations provided through integrated, compassionate, and community-centric approach.
His Excellency President Paul Kagame spoke on the important role the new Rwanda Cancer centre will play in the lives of patients living with cancer, “now, many more Rwandans will be able to get the care they need with their families close by.”
Healthcare in Rwanda
Mutuelles de Sante
The community-based health insurance scheme was established to reduce cost barriers to accessing treatment, with members only paying 10% of the total bill for treatment at local medical facilities. Over the first decade of Mutuelles de Sante, findings showed that coverage reached more than 90% of the population, out-of-pocket payments for health were reduced from 28% to 12% of the total health expenditure and service use was increased to 1-8 contacts per year.
Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence
In order to address the growing need for cancer care, the Ministry of Health in collaboration with Partners In Health established the first comprehensive cancer centre in East Africa, the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence. The centre offers a spectrum of diagnostic oncology and treatment services, including chemotherapy, surgery, a pathology laboratory, counselling, and palliative care.
What is the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence?
TOOLBOX
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Rwanda National Cancer Control Plan
The implementation of the NCCP 2020-2024 is intended to reduce cancer mortality and morbidity in Rwanda through the strengthening of cancer control in Rwanda in all of its dimensions: prevention of risk factors, early detection, access to quality diagnosis, treatment and care.
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NSOAP
In 2018, the Ministry of Health adopted the National Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthesia Plan (NSOAP) to strengthen surgical care in Rwanda.
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Global Cancer Observatory
The Global Cancer Observatory is an interactive web-based platform presenting global cancer statistics to inform cancer control and research run by WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. Stay up to date with the latest data from Rwanda.