East Africa region urged to increase insurance cover

Rwanda’s health insurance card commonly known as Mutuelle de Sante. FILE PHOTO | NMG

Social security experts are calling on East African governments to emulate Rwanda in subsidising community-based health insurance schemes to widen universal healthcare coverage.

The East and Central Social Security Association (Ecassa) — a regional lobby for social protection — cites high levels of poverty as a reason for the low health insurance coverage in the region. This means the bulk of people in countries in the region are unable to pay health insurance premiums.