SUMMARY REPORT OF THE PLENARY SESSION OF JANUARY 9, 2024 ON THE ORAL QUESTION WITH DEBATE ADDRESSED TO THE MINISTERS HAVING PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOLIDALITY IN THEIR ATTRIBUTIONS

In the year two thousand and twenty-four, on the ninth day of January, senators gathered in the Senate Chamber for the 171^st plenary session of the Sixth Legislature to debate an oral question addressed to the Ministers of Health, Mrs. Lyduine BARADAHANA and the one responsible for solidarity, Mrs. Imelde SABUSHIMIKE.

The session was chaired by the First Deputy Speaker of the Senate, Honourable Denise NDADAYE. This session, which was attended by 31 senators and two Government representatives, began, as usual, with a prayer at 10:05 a.m.

Opening the session, the First Deputy Speaker of the Senate first welcomed the Honourable senators and subsequently presented the draft programme of activities planned for the period from January 10 to 24, 2024 for adoption. After adoption, she invited the representatives of the Government to provide clarifications to the questions of the Honourable senators, starting with the Minister having Public Health in her responsibilities.

To the question to know what the Ministry plans to stop the massive departure of doctors from public hospitals to private ones and especially to foreign countries, the Minister indicated that to overcome this challenge, the ministry is doing its best to improve the treatment conditions for these doctors by granting them additional bonuses from internal revenue while taking into account the new salary policy.

To the question to know whether ABREMA has the necessary tools to control drugs entering the country and their marketing, Dr. Lyduine BARADAHANA responded that the inspection work is done normally, adding however that there is an acute shortage of technical equipment.

Regarding hospitals which do not respect the government measure of free care for pregnant women and children under five years old, the government representative stressed that the ministry is aware of this situation. A team from the General Inspectorate of Public Health will soon go to the field to carry out investigations and severe sanctions will be taken, she said.

In relation to drugs for mentally ill patients which are difficult to find on the market and which do not appear on the list of drugs which the public service mutual supports for its affiliates, the Minister indicated that with the updated list which is being prepared, this issue will be resolved.

Regarding the lamentations of retirees in relation to the delay in the implementation of the measure to increase their pension, Imelde SABUSHIMIKE responded that the implementation of the law governing this requires a lot of support measures, which is the cause of this delay. However, a solution is possible before the end of the current budget year, she said.

As for the severe lack of certain drugs in the mutual pharmacies, the Minister responsible for this institution indicated that no effort will be spared to satisfy those entitled to it. She also indicated that there is a problem of collaboration between the Civil Service Mutual and CAMEBU concerning the 2019 agreement which attributes to CAMEBU the purchase of drugs for the Civil Service Mutual, but that this agreement is currently being reviewed to find a lasting solution.

The session, which took place in a climate of perfect understanding, was closed at 17:17 with a prayer.