Muramvya Hospital

The Muramvya Hospital (Hôpital de Muramvya) is a hospital in Muramvya Province, Burundi.

Location
The Muramvya Hospital is a public district hospital in the Muramvya Health District serving a population of 174,259 as of 2014. As of 2016 it was the only hospital in the district, the western district of two in Muramvya Province. Kiganda Hospital served th eastern district.

Events
In 2005/2006 Muramvya Hospital and others were investigated by Human Rights Watch for their practice of detaining patients who were unable to pay for their treatment, forcing them to sell possessions or rely on help from relatives to be allowed to leave. About two thirds were surgical patients who could not collect insurance payments, and could not repay the high costs of treatment. Other hospitals investigated were Prince Régent Charles Hospital, Prince Louis Rwagasore Clinic, Roi Khaled Hospital, Gitega Hospital, Ngozi Hospital, Bururi Hospital, Rumonge Hospital and Matana Hospital. Similar practices prevailed at all of them.

In May 2006, without prior warning, the President of Burundi removed user fees in all hospitals and health centers to women giving birth and for children under 5. Although well-intentioned, the immmediate effect at Muramvya Hospital was to reduce the hospital's revenue, increase paperwork and reduce the quality of service that could be offered. Between May 2006 and May 2008 a Chinese medical team was stationed at Muramvya Provincial Hospital.

In May 2013 it was reported that Muramvya hospital had gone without water for about five months. The problem was that some of the pipes delivering water had been cut. Due to insecurity in the region, technicians were unable to go to make repairs.

In an audit in August–September 2022 it was found that the hospital did not have the space needed to accommodate the high numbers of patients. The debt recovery rate was less than 50%. A relatively high number of patients escaped without paying. At this time the hospital had six general practioners (one under contract), 47 nurses and other medical specialists and administrative staff.