Rwanda has showcased its progress in health financing and universal healthcare at the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health, currently taking place in Accra, Ghana, where African health ministers and policymakers are discussing strategies to strengthen healthcare systems across the continent.
During a ministerial roundtable, Butera shared Rwanda’s experience in financing healthcare, pointing to the country’s Community-Based Health Insurance (CBHI) scheme as one of the key pillars that has expanded access to healthcare services for millions of Rwandans.
He also highlighted the government’s ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring more equitable access to high-quality healthcare for all citizens, regardless of their socio-economic background.
Beyond health financing, Butera stressed the need for African countries to strengthen local production of health commodities. He underscored the importance of expanding local manufacturing of medicines, vaccines, and diagnostic tools, saying the continent should reduce its dependence on imported medical products while improving resilience against future health emergencies.
The Minister of State further called for greater regulatory harmonisation among African countries to facilitate the production, approval, and distribution of medical products across borders.
According to Butera, increasing investment in the health sector should not only be viewed as a medical necessity but also as an opportunity to accelerate Africa’s economic development by creating jobs, strengthening industries, and improving productivity.
The African Union Extraordinary Summit on Health has brought together ministers, policymakers, development partners, and health experts to discuss practical solutions for improving healthcare systems, strengthening pandemic preparedness, and advancing universal health coverage across Africa.
