Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva has revealed that Rwanda has saved more than $800,000 (over Rwf 1.17 billion) since the introduction of kidney transplant services in 2022.
He disclosed this on Thursday, March 26, 2026, while addressing a joint session of Parliament, outlining government efforts to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
The briefing focused on advancing a healthy, secure and self-reliant population, with the Prime Minister highlighting key milestones in expanding access to specialized medical services.
Nsengiyumva said the rollout of kidney transplant services—previously unavailable in Rwanda—has significantly reduced the need to refer patients abroad, easing both financial and logistical burdens on families and the state.
He noted that other advanced medical services have also been introduced, including modern cancer diagnostics and bone reconstruction procedures, further strengthening the country’s capacity to handle complex cases locally.
The Prime Minister also reflected on Rwanda’s recovery and progress in the health sector since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, noting steady improvements in service delivery and access to care.
He underscored the role of the Community-Based Health Insurance scheme (Mutuelle de Santé) in expanding access to costly treatments. Kidney patients using the scheme now save more than Rwf 8.4 million annually.
Without insurance, a patient requiring dialysis can spend over Rwf 9.4 million per year, but under Mutuelle, they pay only 10%—around Rwf 940,000 annually.
This, he said, reflects sustained government investment in healthcare, with insurance coverage now extended to services that were once unavailable in the country.
Building on achievements under Vision 2020, Nsengiyumva emphasized that healthcare remains a central pillar in Rwanda’s development agenda.
He added that since the launch of the first National Strategy for Transformation (NST1) in 2017, significant gains have been recorded in improving the health and well-being of Rwandans.
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that 44 kidney transplants have been successfully carried out in Rwanda to date, while more than 530 patients have undergone heart surgery.
