SOUTHERN PROVINCE

HUYE—The National University of Rwanda health Insurance scheme has been wrecked by the unprecedented move by university staff to join another scheme.

According to student commissioner in charge of social affairs Jean Ntalindwa, the breakaway of staff to La Rwandaise d’assurance Maladie (RAMA) will have "undesirable consequences” on the students, given the fact that their
contributions alone cannot sustain the university plan.

Students contribute Frw650 per month to the scheme while the academic staff and non academic staff contribute 7.5% and 7% of their salaries respectively.

"There have been complaints from the academic staff who claim that they pay a lot of money as compared to the rest of the beneficiaries but do not get services worth it,” Ntalindwa said.

A commission has since been instituted to look into ways of improving the operation of the scheme and will present a report on its findings.

The scheme had also made new partnerships with seven clinics, and has started cooperation with the Kibagabaga and Kanombe military hospitals in Kigali.

Agreements had also been reached with optical centers for the provision of eyeglasses to those who need them according to Ntalindwa. All adjustments were made in an effort to accommodate the concerns of members especially the academic staff.

According to representative of academic staff Gerald
Rwagasana however, the decision to quit the university health scheme was instigated by a directive from the Ministry of Labour.

"All government institutions are required to join RAMA, so I do not see why we, at the National University, should be an exception,” said Rwagasana.

Asked about possible ulterior motives for the switch,
Rwagasana did not hesitate to say that the scheme was poorly run to say the least.

"Members of staff have on many occasions complained of the poor services in the scheme despite the hefty contributions they make. The management itself left a lot to be desired,” he said.

Dean of students Gerald Mudahererwana accepted that running the scheme with students’ contributions alone would be difficult.

"The scheme has largely been doing well. Apart from a few members of bthe academic staff who are not content with the scheme, it has been of great help to the University community,” he said.

The dean said that under the scheme, students’ families could accesstreatment. Though this will no longer be the case if funding is cut.

"We have tried to see how other institutions treat their students,” he said.

"In the Kigali Institute of Science and Technology, students contribute Frw500 every month. They get all the treatment and any extra payments are met by the University. I am not sure if our University can foot such bills here given the big number of our student population.”

The National University enrolls 8000 students, eight times larger than KIST.

According to Dr Martin Karemera of the university dispensary, the facility receives over 1200 cases every month, some of whom are referred to the university hospital for specialized treatment. He concurred that changes in the health scheme would have a strong bearing on students.

"We do not offer specialized treatment here,” Karemera says.

"Neither do we handle hospitalization cases. This means that students will have to find another way of footing their bills if admitted or referred to other centres for specialized treatment,” he said.

According to Alexandrine Mugisha a student leader in charge of gender and health, the scheme should be reorganized instead of being disbanded.

"It is important that this scheme is reorganized because of the benefits it has to students,” Mugisha says.

"The needs of other stakeholders like the academic staff should be addressed since there is nothing like lack of funds. All that is needed is proper management of the scheme.”

The health scheme started its operation in 2001. It is comprised of students, and members of the teaching and non-teaching staff.

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