The Minister of Health, Dr Robert Lucien Jean-Claude KARGOUGOU, held a press conference in Ouagadougou on Wednesday March 18, 2026, to launch the first edition of the National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS 2026).
The purpose of this meeting with media professionals was to inform them about the organization of this major forum and the state of preparations. It also served as a reminder of the central role of the media, who are called upon to relay the challenges of Health Financing with rigor and responsibility, to raise awareness of the reforms underway, and to nurture an informed public debate.
In his speech, the head of the health department indicated that FONAFIS will bring together over 400 participants from a wide range of backgrounds: political decision-makers, health experts, representatives of local authorities, technical and financial partners, civil society organizations and private sector players.
Under the theme :
“Building an efficient and equitable Health Financing system for health sovereignty and the achievement of the objectives of the National Development Plan”.
this meeting is positioned as a strategic framework for reflection and dialogue on financing mechanisms for the Burkinabe healthcare system.
The Minister stressed that Health Financing is a cornerstone of any successful and equitable health system. According to him, without sufficient, stable and judiciously allocated resources, even the most ambitious reforms struggle to produce lasting results. “Health workers often work in difficult conditions, while the most vulnerable populations continue to bear catastrophic health expenses that impoverish them”, he lamented.
Faced with these challenges, the government of Burkina Faso intends to act with determination through the organization of FONAFIS 2026, which aims to lay the foundations for a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient financing system.
Reviewing the achievements of the last decade, the Minister noted that the country has made significant progress in the area of health, despite a context marked by numerous challenges. Between 2010 and 2021, maternal mortality fell by 42%, from 341 to 198 deaths per 100,000 live births. At the same time, infant and child mortality fell by 63%, from 129 to 48 deaths per 1,000 live births. These results reflect the strong political will of the President of Faso, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, who has placed equitable access to healthcare and social protection at the heart of national priorities.
Dr Robert Lucien Jean-Claude KARGOUGOU also spoke of several structural reforms undertaken by the government, including free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five, the Universal Health Insurance Scheme (RAMU), and the Armed Forces Health Insurance Fund (CAMA).
The conference was the occasion for the official launch of the FONAFIS website. This digital platform provides the public with useful information about the forum, including its objectives, program, terms and conditions of participation, and news relating to the event. It is intended as a reference tool to support communication and encourage broad mobilization around the forum.
Scheduled to take place from March 25 to 27, 2026, FONAFIS is part of a drive to consolidate achievements and accelerate reforms, with the ambition of guaranteeing all Burkinabè equitable access to quality healthcare services, in a more sovereign and sustainable system.