Rwanda subsidizes cost of drugs for mental health patients

According to AllAfrica, the country’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson, is subsidizing the cost of drugs for mental health patients.

Prices are being slashed by up to 70% in what is a 5-year deal with the pharmaceutical giant.

Drugs for Schizophrenia, which the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has said accounts for 26% of mental illnesses in the country, are being slashed from Rwf30,000 (about 13,000 Naira) down to Rwf5,000 (about 2100 Naira).

The Director of Psychiatric Care at RBC, Jean Damascene Iyamuremye, said:

“Risperdal was introduced 5 years ago. In the beginning, one dose was at Rwf100,000 for patients without health insurance - they required three doses a year. It has since reduced to Rwf 30,000 but still many people would not afford it. Now, we expect the price to reduce up to Rwf5,000 thanks to this partnership.”