Title: The importance of the National Council for universal coverage in the DRC
Introduction :
As part of his desire to guarantee universal health coverage for all, the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi, created the National Council for Universal Coverage (CNCU) through an ordinance. However, despite the efforts made so far, improvements and solutions to the difficulties encountered are needed to ensure optimal coverage for all. This article offers an in-depth analysis of the situation and suggestions for strengthening the action of the CNCU.
The creation of the CNCU and its current challenges:
The CNCU was established with the aim of providing accessible health care to all Congolese citizens. However, it is essential to recognize that the resources and mechanisms put in place by the CNCU still seem insufficient and unsustainable. In addition, the technical issues related to its operation and the coverage of illnesses must be studied with more precision. Efforts so far have mainly focused on free births, although pregnancy is not a disease in itself.
The need for a “Health Fund”:
To guarantee effective universal health coverage, it is proposed to create a “health fund” which would support the CNCU. The purpose of this fund would be to extend health coverage to other segments of the population, starting with those subject to and entitled to existing social security funds, such as the CNSS and the CNSSAP, which already represent more than 30% of the population. This fund could be funded by a levy on taxes, legitimately intended to enrich the resources of the “National Health Fund”.
Fusion of data and financial resources:
In order to facilitate the establishment of this new fund, it would be wise to merge technical data on providers and beneficiaries, as well as the financial resources of existing social security funds. This would provide a solid database for the institution of the “Caisse Nationale de Santé”. In a first phase, this fund could provide universal health coverage for active and retired workers from the general and special social security schemes, as well as their dependents.
Conclusion :
To achieve the ambitious goals of universal health coverage in the DRC, it is essential to strengthen the action of the CNCU and to make concrete improvements. The creation of a “health fund” would support this approach by extending health coverage to the entire population. By merging the data and financial resources of existing social security funds, it would be possible to guarantee a solid and viable implementation of this vision of the Head of State.. Thus, the DRC will be able to progress towards a society where health care is accessible to all, thus contributing to the development and well-being of the population