The Ministry of Health has held a meeting to enhance health service delivery and discuss key areas to focus on in a bid to give the sector a facelift.  Held on Thursday 15 March 2018 at the Ministry of Health Headquarters in Kigali, the meeting attracted 200 participants including Hospital Directors, Directors of Finance at Health facilities, customer care officers as well as heads of maternity.

The participants were tipped on efficient customer care as the entry point to health service delivery as well as having a good patient-doctor relationship.

“We should put more effort in perfecting Customer Care starting with giving the patients good reception and a listening ear to their problems,” advised Health Minister, Dr. Diane Gashumba.

The Minister highlighted other key areas to focus on in order to improve health in Rwanda.

“Let us work together to immensely reduce avoidable neonatal and maternal deaths. We should also   emphasise Family Planning and fight against stunting and malnutrition among children,” said Dr. Gashumba.

Participants gave their suggestions on how to achieve health success in Rwanda.

“Team work, full commitment and accountability will enable us to achieve quality health care in Rwanda,” said Dr. William Kanyankore , Director of Gisenyi Hospital.

Rwanda’s achievements in health service delivery include; decentralizing health services to all levels, banning cell phone use during working hours for health service providers, taking health services to the people through outreach activities as well as using Community Health workers to understand better and treat patients within their respective communities.

The Ministry of Health identified customer care as a priority that can improve the quality of health services if aligned with well-defined workplace expectations and performance guidelines. The Ministry of Health initiated several comprehensive approaches for continuously improving health service delivery and customer care standards is one of them.