TITLE:
Informal Sector Workers’ Perceptions of Health Insurance Coverage in South Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo
AUTHORS:
Pascal Bizibu Kushombere, Cyprien Munyashongore, Sébastien Manirakiza, Bazilashe Balegamire Juvénal, Jean-Berckmans Muhigwa Bahananga, Perpétue Sifa Makorongo
KEYWORDS:
Informal Sector, Workers’ Perception, Kivu, DR-Congo, Health Matters
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.6,
June
20,
2024
ABSTRACT: The DRC has recently embarked on an unprecedented social protection drive, to establish a degree of equity in access to basic social services through the implementation of Universal Health Coverage, which is still in its infancy. The country’s authorities have made this social protection program a priority since their main concern is to remove financial barriers to access to quality health care. The study therefore sought to find out how workers in the informal sector perceive this program. This study is a result of Observation, Guided discussion groups, In-depth individual interview and Recruitment or selection criteria for focus groups. It aims to assess the perceptions of informal sector workers regarding health insurance coverage in the province of South Kivu in the DRC. Interviews with workers in the informal sector, both in urban and rural areas, show that they are very attached to the universalization of the social protection system: “Everyone would like to be able to benefit from health insurance”. These same people declare that those who almost died for lack of means to seek treatment had to sell part of their fields for those living in rural areas, and those living in urban areas had to sell an object of value to pay for treatment. In South Kivu in particular, and DR. Congo in general, despite the exposure of informal sector workers to risk and income insecurity, 97% of informal sector workers are not covered by health insurance. This lack of health insurance coverage is a major factor in social exclusion and poverty. These informal sector workers add that several reasons or factors exclude them from health insurance coverage: low and irregular income to pay social contributions to the social security service and/or insufficient means to join the social protection service (health insurance); lack of willpower as they are demotivated by the management of these organizations; the very long duration of the contributions required and finally the lack of political will on the part of the country’s political players, good governance. Health insurance in the DRC must take into account the fact that, in the face of profound changes in society (war, aging, chronic illness, etc.) and the world of work, health insurance and the occupational risks branch must act to continue to protect every insured person. A driving role at the heart of the healthcare system, in synergy with all the players involved. We must also take into account the three fundamental principles of equal access to care, quality of care, and solidarity, to guarantee universal access to care.