111. According to the data collected in the Health Financing Study for Burundi in 2014,27 prior to
1980, the State fully supported the health care of civil servants in the public service, the Armed
Forces and university students including for consultations, para-clinical examinations and for
medication.
112. From 27 June 1980, a health insurance scheme for public servants and similar employees was
established by Decree-Law No. 1/28 and subsequently the Mutual of Public Service (MFP) was
created by Decree-Law No. 100/107. Under this new mechanism, the State contribution has been
reduced to the payment of the employers' contribution, the care coverage being provided by the
insurance company at 80% and 20% of co-payment by the beneficiary
113. As early as 28 July 1983, the provision of health care for workers in private commercial and
industrial enterprises as well as for the personnel of para statal institutions not subject to the Civil
Service Statute was established by decree no. # 1/17.
114. Since April 2, 2003, the medical and health care arrangements for the needy were particularly
regulated by the joiny Ministerial Order No. 630/530/445 of the Minister of Public Health and
AIDS Control and the Minister of the Interior. The necessary details had to be provided as to the
identification of the needy requiring medical assistance, the bodies involved in the management of
medical and health assistance of these and the source of resources.
115. As of 2006, the policy of free care was launched for children under 5, pregnant women and
childbirth. With nearly four (4) years of experience in April 2010, the Government decided to
combine this free service with the Performance Based Financing programme. Initially supported by
debt relief funds through the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative (HIPC) mechanism, the
financing of these initiatives was supported by the joint financing of the Government and its
technical and funding partners through the Performance Based Financing (PBF) Approach
e. Orphan care
116. The crisis in the country since 1993 has taken lives, including heads of families, leaving
widows and orphans behind. This category faces enormous challenges in accessing health care and
requires support from the Government and partners in the sector.
117. Regarding the health of orphaned children, the Government of Burundi has adopted the
National Policy for Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children (PNOEV). This policy is directly
related to the policy of free access to health care for children under five and for pregnant women;
but also with the National Action Plan for Orphans and Vulnerable Children developed by the
Ministry of Public Health and the Fight against AIDS.
118. At the institutional level, the Government has set up a Ministry of Social Affairs, which
includes a Child and Family Department. It should also be noted that there is an Official
27
Study on Health Financing in Burundi, Bujumbura, May 2014
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