DRC – The private health sector

The private sector is subdivided into three categories: private for-profit, private not-for-profit (health services provided by non-governmental organizations and faith-based organizations), and traditional medicine. The pharmaceutical sector is primarily private. The private for-profit sector is particularly flourishing in urban areas and economic centers. It consists of medical and paramedical practices, clinics or polyclinics, and diagnostic centers (laboratories, imaging). Opening permits are granted by the Ministry of Public Health, while the opening application is approved by the province. Texts clarifying the responsibilities of the central government and those of the provinces in this area are still lacking.

The private faith-based and non-profit sector has been present in the DRC since the colonial era and represents approximately 40% of the health care provision (State of the Health Sector, 2010). The main actors are the Catholic, Protestant, Kimbanguist and Salvationist churches, which manage health facilities such as hospitals and health centers. Background work was carried out on the analysis of the impact of the private sector. The objectives of this study were to provide an estimate of the size, scope and extent of the private health sector with a focus on the main stakeholders and their roles; an overview of the types of health services and products offered by the private sector with a particular focus on family planning and maternal and child health; baseline data and lessons learned from the experiences of comparable low-income countries; and an overview of the policies, market conditions and business needs that hinder or promote private sector participation in the health system. This study determined strategic priorities and a "roadmap for action" over a three-year horizon. 

It is also worth mentioning that today, cities in the DRC are subject to unplanned, rapid urbanization and spectacular population growth. This calls for work on adapting the way health services are organized in urban areas, taking into account their specific characteristics. 

On August 2, 2022, the government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Central Coordination Office (BCECO) to collaborate on the construction of 1,000 community health centers across the country. The project will take five years to bring healthcare services closer to the grassroots population. By the end of December 2022, 104 health centers will be built across the country.