Deputies questioned Public Health Minister Fidèle Nkezabahizi on Monday, May 04, 2026, during a plenary session held at the Kigobe palace. The session addressed irregularities within the ministry, specifically concerning hospital operations. An audit report presented during the proceedings noted issues in public procurement procedures for medicines and medical supplies.
Procurement Concerns Detailed
Procurement procedures at the Clinique prince Louis Rwagasore (CPLR) were scrutinized, revealing a threshold of twelve million five hundred thousand Burundian francs (12,500,000 FBu) for open tender calls. This figure dictates when competitive bidding is formally required for purchases. Critics argued that the present threshold for quotation requests is inadequate to ensure a consistent and sufficient supply of essential medicines and medical inputs. Concerns were raised that this limit does not align with the average monthly consumption rates of such critical supplies, potentially leading to shortages or inefficient procurement practices. The discussion centered on whether the existing financial parameters effectively support the operational needs of the hospital in acquiring necessary medical provisions. The audit report specifically noted that the current threshold for quotation requests is insufficient for an adequate supply of medicines and medical inputs, particularly when considering average monthly consumption rates. This inadequacy could pose significant challenges for maintaining essential medical stock.
Cankuzo Hospital's Debt Landscape
Cankuzo Hospital faced unrecovered debts totaling 692,080,471 FBu as of June 30, 2025. These debts are primarily linked to providers for targeted free services, which include programs such as Cam, FBP, PNB, FDNB, MFP, and care for indigent individuals. Invoices for services provided to pregnant women, those giving birth, and children under five years old are paid by the government, the European Union, and the World Bank through the Covid-19 project.
The outstanding debts at Cankuzo Hospital fall into three main categories. One significant category involves debts related to targeted free services paid by the government. Another category comprises debts associated with co-payments for various staff groups. The third category of outstanding debts stems from agreements signed by the hospital with different insurers. These three categories collectively contribute to the substantial unrecovered amount reported by the hospital.
Regarding the specific free care debts, 123,444,341 FBu of the 147,506,455 FBu reported for free care (FBP contractualization subsidies) have already been paid by the government and its partners. Additionally, a sum of 35,323,949 FBu has been paid for the renovated Medical Assistance Card (Cam). The government has included provisions in the revised budget law to settle FBP/Cam arrears through the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance. This commitment aims to alleviate the financial burden on the hospital and ensure the continuity of these vital free services.
Minister's Response and Context
Public Health Minister Fidèle Nkezabahizi addressed the concerns raised regarding hospital irregularities during the plenary session at the Kigobe palace. The minister acknowledged the challenges identified in the audit report, particularly those related to public procurement procedures for medicines and medical supplies at facilities such as the Clinique prince Louis Rwagasore (CPLR). He also spoke to the financial situation at Cankuzo Hospital, which reported unrecovered debts totaling 692,080,471 FBu as of June 30, 2025. This significant debt figure was a key point of discussion during the session.
Minister Nkezabahizi indicated that the government is actively working to resolve the outstanding financial issues. This includes addressing debts linked to targeted free services, which involve funding from the government, the European Union, and the World Bank through the Covid-19 project. Specific payments have been made, such as 123,444,341 FBu for free care subsidies and 35,323,949 FBu for the Medical Assistance Card. The minister affirmed that provisions are included in the revised budget law to settle these arrears, with the process to be managed through the Ministry of Public Health and the Ministry of Finance. The minister's response aimed to reassure deputies that concrete steps are being taken to rectify the financial and procurement irregularities noted in the audit.