Cost of the free maternity program in the DRC: an ambitious but expensive measure
The Congolese government recently announced the establishment of a free maternity program throughout the territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This measure aims to ensure free and equitable access to maternal health services for all Congolese women. However, this ambitious initiative involves considerable costs for the government.
According to the Minister of Public Health, Dr Roger Kamba, the estimated cost of this program is approximately $200 million per year. This estimate was calculated based on the number of deliveries recorded each year in Kinshasa and throughout the country.
For the city of Kinshasa, which is the pilot zone for this program, the cost is estimated at $42 million. The Ministry of Health assures that this sum is already available. Regarding the country as a whole, the envelope of 200 million dollars is already included in the budget for the year.
The implementation of free maternity includes various services such as prenatal consultations, simple and cesarean deliveries, newborn care, vaccination, postnatal consultations, family planning and access to drugs. This measure aims to ensure that all Congolese women can benefit from quality care during pregnancy and childbirth, without having to bear heavy costs.
The launch of this program by President Félix Tshisekedi demonstrates the Congolese government’s commitment to improving maternal health. However, the question of financing remains crucial to ensure the sustainability of this program in the long term.
Free maternity is an important step towards equal access to health care, but it is essential that the Congolese government finds lasting solutions to finance this measure. Partnerships with international organizations, investments in the health system and innovative fundraising mechanisms could help sustain this program in the long term.
In conclusion, the free maternity program in the DRC is an important measure to improve access to maternal care. However, its high cost requires the Congolese government to find sustainable means of financing to ensure the continuity of this program. Maternal health is a major issue for the country’s development and deserves adequate investments to guarantee a better future for Congolese women.