Rwanda: RAHPC Celebrates a Decade of Practices in Advancing Quality of Healthcare

By Elias Hakizimana.

The Rwanda Allied Health Professions Council (RAHPC) recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of advancements in the healthcare profession in Rwanda.

The ceremony took place on October 28, 2023, in Kigali. Retired Maj. Jean Damascene Gasherebuka, the council’s registrar, expressed gratitude for the collaboration with various entities that contributed to the council’s remarkable journey in regulating and promoting healthcare professions.

He also acknowledged the support of the Government of Rwanda, particularly the Ministry of Health, in achieving significant progress over the past ten years.

Key highlights and initiatives from the celebration:

1. Regulations and Ethical Conduct:

The RAHPC has played a crucial role in establishing regulations and ethical guidelines that govern healthcare professions in Rwanda. These regulations have helped enhance the quality of healthcare delivery by ensuring the presence of motivated and well-trained professionals according to Retired Maj. Jean Damascene Gasherebuka.

2. Community Outreach Programs:

The council conducted a week-long community outreach activity as part of its anniversary celebration. During this initiative, they provided free testing and care for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as breast cancer, dental and eyecare, diabetes, and blood pressure. These decentralized programs aimed to reach citizens at the grassroots level.

3. Training of Professionals:

One of the council’s achievements is the training of healthcare professionals in various subjects, with a specific focus on NCDs screening. They also conducted community outreach programs in Bugesera and Nyanza districts to bring healthcare services to underserved areas.

4. Challenges:

The council faces challenges, including dealing with non-registered professionals and limited resources for issuing licenses. Some individuals use counterfeit documents to practice as healthcare providers, and efforts are made to address this issue. However, the current law may not provide adequate provisions for punishing such scenarios.

5. Licensed Professionals:

RAHPC has around 7,000 licensed professionals. However, there are approximately 2,000 individuals working without licenses and some resort to forging licenses instead of retaking the professional exams.

6. Role of Licensing:

According to Dr. Menelas Nkeshimana, Head of the Department of Health Workforce Development in the Ministry of Health, regulating and licensing healthcare providers is essential for ensuring that citizens receive quality healthcare services.

“RAHPC offers licenses for various healthcare professions through standardized processes to ensure high-quality services.” Dr. Nkeshimana said.

7. Contributions to the Healthcare System:

“In addition to licensing and regulating healthcare providers, the council has collaborated with the Ministry of Health to develop and implement standards and ethics, strengthening the healthcare system in the country. This has contributed to improving the overall quality of healthcare services in Rwanda.” Dr. Nkeshimana added.

8. Registered Professionals:

RAHPC oversees over 6,000 registered professionals across 22 healthcare professions who serve in various healthcare facilities throughout the country.

The council’s 10-year celebration highlights the importance of regulatory bodies in ensuring the quality of healthcare services, training healthcare professionals, and conducting community outreach programs to benefit citizens, especially in underserved areas.

It also calls for more resources and efforts to address the challenges associated with non-registered professionals and counterfeit documents.

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