BUJUMBURA, September 18th (ABP) – Cases of reluctance to join the health risk mutualization scheme are a sad reality, say holders of the community health mutual card.
They claim to have been badly received by certain healthcare providers in the health centers where they have sought treatment.
During a medical consultation, the nurses ask them to wait and they are treated last, because they tell them that the operation of calculating the amount of the bill takes time.
The administrator of the Mubimbi commune, Mr. Dismans Harimenshi, quoting members of his population, revealed that at a provincial workshop on health risk pooling aimed at universal coverage in Mutimbuzi.
According to him, that challenge must be met without delay so that holders of the community health mutual card are well treated.
Nadine Irakoze, head of the national department for the promotion of demand for health care, was quick to respond, ordering that that shortcoming be quickly remedied and describing as senseless the fact of not administering care to a member of a mutual health insurance scheme to which he or she has contributed for the whole year. He went on to point out that there are mechanisms in place in both health facilities and health districts to deal with such cases.
The provincial medical officer for Bujumbura (western Burundi), Dr Jean Paul Ndayishimiye, has asked those receiving care to contact the heads of health facilities immediately.