Several health ministers from the sub-region have confirmed their participation in the National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS 2026), to be held from March 25 to 27, 2026 in Ouagadougou. They will take part in the ministerial panel scheduled for the first day of the forum.
A high-level ministerial panel
Session S03, entitled “Special panel of ministers: Roadmap towards increased funding for health”, will be a political highlight of the forum. Co-chaired by the Minister of Health, Dr Robert Lucien Jean-Claude KARGOUGOU, and the Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr Aboubakar NACANABO – FONAFIS patron – this session will bring together ministers of health and economy from countries in the sub-region, including members of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Two thematic panels
The guest ministers will be asked to speak on two major topics. The first panel will focus on policy reforms and innovative approaches to driving sustainable healthcare financing in Africa. Discussions will cover innovative fiscal policies, regional solidarity, debt management and budgetary space, insurance and risk-pooling mechanisms, financing health research and the role of the diaspora.
The second panel will explore multi-sector collaboration between public authorities, the private sector and civil society organizations to unlock sustainable financing. It will discuss the role of citizen health observatories in monitoring financial flows, and mechanisms for collaboration between public authorities, private operators and patient associations.
An unprecedented Health-Finance dialogue
In addition to the international panel, session S03 will host a direct ministerial dialogue between Burkina Faso’s Minister of Health and Minister of Economy and Finance – an unprecedented exercise designed to lay the foundations for a Health-Finance roadmap with reciprocal commitments. The Ministry of Health will present the challenges of financing (health budget at 12.7% against the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration), while the Budget Directorate will outline the outlook and room for maneuver in public finances.
The AES dimension at the heart of discussions
The participation of ministerial delegations from ESA countries (Mali, Niger) reflects the desire to make FONAFIS a platform for regional cooperation in the field of health sovereignty. A dedicated session (S13) will specifically address the ESA Stabilization Fund and the opportunities it offers for health financing in the Sahel region. Session S23 will also bring together representatives from the three countries to define a common strategy for pharmaceutical sovereignty, including concerted specialization in drug production and pooled purchasing.
The protocol for welcoming foreign delegations is coordinated by the Direction générale du Protocole d’État, under the supervision of the Présidence du Faso.