Research Report | June 2023 | Download Report
By Health Action International and Rwanda NGOs Forum
Access to medicines and medical commodities in Rwanda forms a crucial building block of the health system, and sexual and reproductive (SRH) health is a field of care that lies at the basis of a healthy society.
Unfortunately, Rwanda experiences challenges with the adequate provision of adequate provision of SRH services and commodities evidenced by a maternal mortality rate of 248 per 100,000 live births. Therefore, this study was conducted to measure the availability, stockouts and affordability of 49 SRH commodities, which are included on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Model List of Essential Medicines, in 117 health facilities from the public, private and faith-based sectors across Gasabo, Gatsibo, Nyagatare and Nyarungenge districts.
Summary:
Availability: Rwanda experiences sub-optimal availability of SRH commodities. Only a few of them reached the 80% target as set out by WHO.
Stockouts: Stockouts were relatively common in the surveyed health facilities. Only very few commodities that were commonly found in the health facilities had not experienced a stockout in any of the health facilities.
Affordability: The affordability of commodities could be become problematic for those who are not part of the community-based health insurance scheme.
Recommendations:
- Strengthen supply chain management, including standard operation procedures and stock management, at both national and local levels.
- Increase the availability of specific SRH commodities, including the emergency contraceptives and misoprostol.
- Increase government investment in SRH.
- Promote the engagement of faith-based health facilities in SRH commodities.
- Monitor and evaluate progress in improving the availability, affordability, and use of SRH commodities.
- Foster partnerships between public, private and faith-based sector act.