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People with disabilities are urgently calling on authorities to expedite the full implementation of the Cabinet decision to include prosthetic and orthotic services under Mutuelle de Santé, Rwanda’s community-based health insurance program. This decisive policy change is seen as a critical milestone in removing financial barriers and improving access to essential assistive devices—yet ongoing delays have left many individuals waiting for the support they need to regain independence and participate fully in society.
Without adequate coverage, thousands remain unable to acquire prosthetic limbs or orthoses—medical devices central to restoring basic mobility, enhancing daily function, and enabling active community engagement. Prosthetic devices, designed to replace missing limbs and restore lost function, and orthotic devices, used to stabilize or correct movement in weakened or injured limbs, are foundational for people living with physical disabilities. However, the substantial out-of-pocket costs place these devices beyond the reach of the majority. According to the National Council of Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), the cost of a prosthesis in Rwanda ranges from $468 to $936, depending on the type—an amount few patients can realistically afford, especially in rural or underserved areas.
Isaac Rukundo, Head of the Prosthetics and Orthotics Department at HVP Gatagara—a centre of clinical excellence for people with physical disabilities—describes widespread frustration as the insurance mandate remains unfulfilled. “The government decided Mutuelle de Santé would provide up to 90 percent coverage for prosthetic and orthotic services, but this directive is yet to be realized in practice. The Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), which manages the insurance scheme, has yet to roll out the changes,” Rukundo noted.
Originally, coverage for these life-enhancing services was slated to begin in July this year. However, when updated hospital tariffs were issued, prosthetic and orthotic services were omitted—even after being formally approved in the Cabinet’s January session. The Ministry of Health had announced a comprehensive expansion of Mutuelle de Santé, listing 14 new health services to be included—among them cancer care, joint replacement surgeries, and the provision of prosthetic and orthotic devices to broaden the reach of patient-centered care.
Responding to concerns, Regis Hitimana, Chief Benefits Officer at RSSB, explained that while certain services—such as knee and hip replacements—have begun implementation due to established supply chains, the addition of prosthetic and orthotic devices involves complex logistical and procurement considerations. He pointed to ongoing efforts to integrate new service lines, noting that cancer therapies will soon be available through Rwanda Medical Supply Ltd (RMS) and that coverage is steadily expanding. “Very soon, more public health facilities will be able to access these medicines and services through the RMS supply system,” Hitimana said, underscoring the commitment to making expanded healthcare benefits a reality.
Nevertheless, the continued absence of prosthetic and orthotic coverage remains a source of disappointment and anxiety for people with disabilities and their advocates. For these individuals, the delay means more than a gap in coverage; it represents a sustained barrier to autonomy, quality of life, and equal opportunity. Access to advanced prosthetics and orthoses not only restores mobility but also affirms dignity, fosters social and economic inclusion, and aligns with broader goals for accessible, patient-centered healthcare.
As advocacy efforts intensify, patients, clinicians, and disability rights organizations are united in urging the government to act swiftly. The hope is that decisive action will soon transform policy promises into concrete improvements, ensuring every individual who needs a prosthesis or orthosis can access it—without financial hardship—through Rwanda’s public insurance system.
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