Under the Very High Patronage of H.E. Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, President of Faso -
Sponsored by the Minister of Economy and Finance
The National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) is the main national platform for strategic dialogue on Health Financing in Burkina Faso. It is the permanent framework for dialogue, coordination and accountability on Health Financing, instituted by Arrêté n°2025-699/MS/CAB of October 17, 2025.
FONAFIS is organized by the Ministry of Health, through the Secrétariat Technique des Réformes sur le Health Financing(ST-RFS), with technical assistance from the Réseau en Afrique francophone pour la Recherche pour la Santé et le Développement(RESADE).
This first edition is placed under the Very High Patronage of His Excellency Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, President of Faso, Head of State, and sponsored by the Minister of Economy and Finance.
The forum will be held from March 25 to 27, 2026 at the Ouaga 2000 conference hall , Ouagadougou, and will bring together around 400 participants: government decision-makers, technical and financial partners, civil society, the private sector, researchers and national and international experts.
The official working language is French, with simultaneous interpretation into English for plenary sessions.
Remarkable health progress, but persistent financing challenges
The policy of free healthcare, in force since 2016, is one of the major advances in the Burkinabe healthcare system. It covers care for pregnant women, children under 5 and emergency care.
Since its launch, the policy has generated a cumulative billing volume of over 560 million USD (around 330 billion FCFA). More than 164 million free benefits have been delivered to beneficiaries.
This policy has considerably improved access to healthcare for the most vulnerable populations, but poses challenges in terms of financial sustainability and reimbursement of health facilities.
The Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU) was officially launched on February 1, 2026, marking a historic milestone in Burkina Faso’s march towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
RAMU is managed by the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie Universelle (CNAMU), created by Decree n°2023-0662/PRES/PM of June 21, 2023. Its ambition is to gradually cover the entire population of Burkina Faso.
The Caisse Autonome de Mutualisation des Agents de l’État (CAMA) also contributes to social health protection for civil servants and government employees.
ThePresidential Initiative for Health complements this with a political commitment at the highest level to accelerate healthcare financing reforms.
| Partner | Amount | Area |
|---|---|---|
| World Bank / GFF | 167 M USD | Results-based financing, health system strengthening |
| Global fund | ~250 M USD | HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, health system strengthening |
| European Union | 384 M EUR | Sector budget support, universal health coverage |
| ILO / Belgium | 2 M EUR | Support for social protection in health, RAMU |
Despite massive investment in free healthcare (USD 560M since 2016), direct household payments remain at 44% of total healthcare expenditure. This paradox illustrates the need for an integrated financing framework that articulates coherence between free healthcare, health insurance and budget financing.
FONAFIS 2026 aims to resolve this equation by laying the foundations for a more efficient, equitable and sovereign financing system.
Build an efficient and equitable healthcare financing system to ensure health sovereignty and achieve the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2026-2030, by mobilizing all stakeholders around a common agenda of reforms and concrete commitments.
Analysis of dependence on external funding (21% of healthcare expenditure) and exploration of paths towards greater financial autonomy. Conceptual framework of health sovereignty in the Burkina Faso context. Positioning in relation to the Abuja objective (15% of the national budget devoted to health). Role of endogenous financing in sustaining the healthcare system.
Comprehensive review of healthcare financing based on the National Health Accounts (NHA 2023). Analysis of financial flows, identification of bottlenecks and inefficiencies. International comparisons and benchmarking with countries in the sub-region. Assessment of budgetary space for health.
Exploration of innovative resource mobilization mechanisms: dedicated health taxes (tobacco, alcohol, telecommunications, mining), contributions from the Burkina Faso diaspora, contributions from the domestic private sector and public-private partnerships for health. Successful international experiences and conditions for transferability to the Burkina Faso context.
First results of the RAMU (launched February 1, 2026), articulation with the policy of free health care and CAMA. Strategies to reduce catastrophic health expenditure (MDG 3.8.2). Fight against impoverishment linked to health expenditure. Models for extending coverage to populations in the informal sector and to people in vulnerable situations.
Moving from passive financing to strategic purchasing of healthcare services. Allocative and technical efficiency in the use of resources. Results-based financing (RBF): assessment and prospects. Local drug production and pharmaceutical sovereignty. Digitization for efficient healthcare financing.
Transparency mechanisms in the management of healthcare resources. Mutual accountability between government and partners. Role of civil society and citizen control in monitoring funding. Information systems for monitoring financial flows and producing evidence-based data.
Round table of technical and financial partners for formal commitments. Align support with the national priorities of the NDP 2026-2030. Harmonization of procedures and reduction of aid fragmentation. Coordination mechanisms between different financing instruments and joint monitoring of commitments.
A robust organizational structure to ensure the success of the forum and follow-up on commitments
The National Organizing Committee (CNO) is the steering body for FONAFIS. It is chaired by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Health, and includes representatives of the ministries concerned, national institutions and technical and financial partners.
The NOC is supported by the Technical Secretariat for Health Financing Reforms (ST-RFS), which is responsible for operational coordination of all preparatory activities and day-to-day management of the forum.
Technical assistance is provided by RESADE (Réseau en Afrique francophone pour la Recherche pour la Santé et le Développement), which brings its expertise in organizing high-level forums on health financing.
The commitments made at FONAFIS 2026 will be monitored by a permanent inter-ministerial mechanism, coordinated by the Comité d’Orientation Stratégique de la Gouvernance du Health Financing (COS-GFS).
This mechanism provides for biannual reviews of commitments, involving the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, technical and financial partners and civil society.
The ST-RFS will act as permanent secretariat for the monitoring process, producing regular progress reports that will be made public to ensure transparency and accountability to the people of Burkina Faso.
Join 400 decision-makers, experts and partners to build the future of healthcare financing in Burkina Faso.