Panel on mobilizing resources for health: experts and decision-makers call for an integrated approach in Burkina Faso
On the occasion of the National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS), Seydou Bouda, former Minister of Health, moderated a high-level panel devoted to the mobilization of national resources, this Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Ouagadougou. The panel was well attended by experts and institutional players, and focused on a major issue: “Why and how to mobilize more national resources for health: dedicated taxes, community contributions, local authorities”.
At the heart of the discussions was a clear consensus: in the face of growing needs and limited resources, it is becoming imperative to diversify funding sources, while guaranteeing equity, efficiency and transparency. Four main levers structured the discussions: dedicated health taxes, community contributions, enlarging the budgetary space and involving local authorities.
Speaking on the subject of taxes, Professor Issaka Sombié highlighted the strategic role of levies on harmful products such as tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks. In his view, these taxes have a double dividend: they both reduce consumption of products that are harmful to health and generate substantial tax revenues.
However, Burkina Faso is not yet fully exploiting this leverage. Current tax levels remain below international recommendations, notably those of the WHO, ECOWAS and UEMOA. “There is considerable scope for increasing these taxes”, he stressed, pointing out that increases of 10% can lead to a significant drop in consumption.
Among the avenues put forward, the professor recommends a gradual increase in excise duties, the introduction of specific taxes that are more difficult to circumvent, and the extension of taxation to sweetened and alcoholic beverages.
The Director of Community Health, Dr Mahamadi Tassambedo, shed light on the contribution made by communities. Contrary to some perceptions, households in Burkina Faso already provide a significant share of Health Financing, estimated at almost 40% of total expenditure.
This contribution takes various forms: direct payments, family solidarity, volunteer work by community health workers, or in-kind contributions. “The community already contributes a great deal. It’s not a question of asking them for more, but of better organizing what already exists”, he insisted.
One of the main risks identified by the Director of Community Health is that of increased inequality, if new contributions were to weigh more heavily on vulnerable populations. To remedy this, he recommends structuring these contributions through formal mechanisms such as mutual health insurance schemes, while ensuring that the central responsibility of the State is maintained.
The key, in his view, also lies in the visibility of results and accountability: populations need to perceive the impact of their contributions in concrete terms to reinforce their support.
In the face of still insufficient funding, despite an estimated effort of 8.5% of GDP, Dr. David Zombré, an expert in Health Financing, proposed exploring new and innovative sources of financing. Three sectors were identified as particularly promising: telecommunications, through taxes on sales and mobile transactions; extractive industries, by capitalizing on the dynamism of the mining sector; and financial transactions, through micro levies on large transactions.
According to its estimates, these mechanisms could generate several tens of billions of additional CFA francs each year, helping to reduce the health system’s financing deficit.
Among the recommendations are the creation of a special allocation account for health, the establishment of inter-ministerial coordination and the gradual increase of the share of the national budget devoted to health to 15%.
Representing Ouagadougou town council, Omer Ouédraogo stressed the importance of decentralizing Health Financing.
Local authorities can play a key role in financing health infrastructure, supporting community initiatives and mobilizing local resources.
However, this requires greater coordination with the central government and effective decentralization of financial resources.
In conclusion, the panelists emphasized that no single source of financing can meet the needs of the healthcare system. The solution lies in a combined financing basket, involving the State, local authorities, technical and financial partners, dedicated taxes and community contributions.
Beyond financial mechanisms, a paradigm shift is needed: healthcare must be seen as a strategic investment, not just an expense.
Lastly, the success of this mobilization will depend on three essential conditions, notably guaranteeing equity so as not to penalize the most vulnerable, maximizing efficiency in the collection and use of resources, and ensuring total transparency to boost public confidence.
A major challenge, but also a major opportunity to build a more resilient and inclusive healthcare system in Burkina Faso.
