Rwanda has marked 25 years of its community-based health insurance scheme, Mutuelle de Santé, with new contribution rates introduced to strengthen the system’s sustainability. The anniversary and launch of the revised fees were celebrated on February 24, 2026, in Rutunga Sector of Gasabo District at the City of Kigali level, while national events were also held in Kayonza District.
During the event, Dominique Habimana the Minister of Local Government, reassured citizens that the updated contributions were carefully designed to remain affordable. He explained that the review considered improvements in Rwandans’ living standards while still protecting vulnerable households. According to him, nearly 70% of citizens will see only a small increase about 2,000 Rwandan francs and many in the lowest income categories will continue to receive government support.
Extensive consultations were carried out across villages and cells nationwide to ensure that the new rates match household economic capacities. The Minister stressed that with proper preparation and saving habits, families should manage the payments without major difficulty.
“Under the revised structure, households in the first income category have their 4,000-franc annual contribution fully covered by the government. Those in the second category pay 3,000 francs, with the government adding 1,000 francs. Citizens in the third category contribute 5,000 francs per person each year. Higher-income earners about 30% of the population pay 8,000 or 20,000 francs annually per person.” Stressed the Minister.
To help families prepare, the Minister encouraged community saving practices, such as joining savings groups or investing in small livestock projects whose proceeds can later cover insurance fees.
The Deputy Director General of the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), Louise Kanyonga, highlighted the scheme’s achievements over the past quarter-century.
“Access to healthcare has significantly improved, contributing to an increase in life expectancy of over 20 years. Maternal mortality has dropped by nearly 80%, while child mortality has declined by about 72%, reflecting major progress in the health sector.” She noted.
She further explained that the contribution adjustment was necessary because new, costly diseases have recently been added to the insurance coverage. Treating such conditions requires substantial funding, making it essential to reinforce the insurance pool. While Rwanda’s economic growth made this step possible, she acknowledged that contributions alone still do not fully meet healthcare expenses, and continued collaboration will be needed to close the funding gap.
According to RSSB data, healthcare costs for Mutuelle members have risen sharply over the past decade, doubling from 39 billion to 98 billion Rwandan francs annually due to increasing treatment expenses. Yet contributions had not increased during that period. Last year, member contributions totaled 31 billion francs covering only 34% of overall treatment costs illustrating the financial imbalance the reforms aim to address.
Citizens can check their socio-economic classification for Mutuelle payments through the *195# “Imibereho” system, while information related to health insurance contributions is available via *876#.
