USAID Rwanda Integrated Health Systems Activity Quarterly Progress Report FY 2021 QUARTER THREE

The program is implemented by The Palladium Group and is led by Dr. Solange Hakiba, Chief of Party. The program's overall goal is to strengthen the health system in Rwanda, with a focus on reducing financial barriers to healthcare and improving the quality of essential health services. One of the key objectives of RIHSA is to reduce financial barriers to healthcare. To achieve this, the program is working to strengthen the health sector information systems and use of data for decision-making and resource allocation. This includes conducting a financial information systems assessment and providing training to district and facility teams to use the Health Resources Tracking Tool (HRTT) and Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS). The program is also working to strengthen community-based health insurance (CBHI) in Rwanda. This includes enhancing CBHI information systems, strengthening CBHI financial sustainability, and strengthening the Rwanda Social Security Board's (RSSB) strategic purchase of health services under CBHI. The program is providing technical assistance (TA) to improve CBHI membership and premium compliance management, update CBHI sustainability analysis, and quantify revenue increasing opportunities. Another key objective of RIHSA is to improve the quality of essential health services. To achieve this, the program is working to increase the quality of essential health services, ensure effective leadership and governance for quality at district levels, and institutionalize sustainable quality structures. This includes providing TA to the Ministry of Health (MOH) to identify high burden sites performing poorly in selected maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) indicators, and supporting the development of quality improvement (QI) key performance indicators and ensuring integration into staff job descriptions. The program is also working to strengthen the accreditation process at hospitals and health centers. This includes supporting the establishment of an independent accreditation body, developing online surveyor training modules for the next cohort of surveyors, and supporting accreditation progress surveys in hospitals. Additionally, the program is working to improve data use for quality and governance, including strengthening the development of the Rwanda Health Analytics Platform, and strengthening data use at central, district, and facility levels. Overall, the RIHSA program is working to improve the health system in Rwanda, with a focus on reducing financial barriers to healthcare and improving the quality of essential health services. The program's activities are aimed at strengthening the health sector information systems, improving CBHI, increasing the quality of essential health services, and improving data use for quality and governance.