The government will pay Rwf13.5 billion by next month to clear all arrears the community health insurance, commonly known as Mutuelle de Santé, accumulated before it was placed under the management of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).

The news was confirmed yesterday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, Caleb Rwamuganza, explaining that the funds were allocated in the revised National Budget for the Financial Year 2015/16 approved by Parliament this month.

"Paying has started since the revised budget was approved. We hope to finish paying by the end of the month or early next month,” Rwamuganza told Sunday Times.

The money includes funds owed to different hospitals, health centres, and district pharmacies for medical check-ups and drugs offered to patients who are Mutuelle de Santé subscribers.

When the insurance scheme faced dropping subscriptions and accumulating debts, subscribers started to experience poor services and the government transferred the scheme’s management to RSSB from the Ministry of Health and districts to reverse the situation.

Those who use Mutuelle de Santé now have noted improved service delivery ever since RSSB took over the scheme’s management seven months ago.

The board pays health providers on time, enabling them to give their clients medical attention and drugs they need.

But managers of hospitals, health centres, and district pharmacies haven’t forgotten that the scheme still owes them money even if it currently pays well under RSSB.

RSSB did not inherit the debts and officials agreed that the central government would clear them, with three ministries including Health, Local Government and Finance agreeing to work together to see that the debts are cleared.

Several healthcare providers told Sunday Times last month that the delay in clearing the debts had affected their operations such as their ability to get the medicine they need or expand the infrastructure at their health facilities.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw