The National Organizing Committee (NOC) of the National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS 2026) has held its third plenary meeting, taking a decisive step forward in preparations for this major event scheduled for March 25-27, 2026 in Ouagadougou.
Placed under the Very High Patronage of His Excellency Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, President of Faso, Head of State, and the patronage of the Minister of Economy and Finance, Dr Aboubakar NACANABO, FONAFIS 2026 aims to propose a concrete agenda for health financing reforms and an operational roadmap for its implementation.
A program of 27 sessions over three days
During this third plenary session, the NOC reviewed the progress of logistical preparations and the mobilization of confirmed speakers. The forum program, drawn up with the assistance of the Technical Secretariat for Health Financing Reforms (ST-RFS), includes no fewer than 27 sessions spread over three days, covering all aspects of health financing: national diagnosis, domestic resource mobilization, strategic purchasing, digitization, public-private partnerships, regional cooperation within the framework of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), and pharmaceutical sovereignty.
Over 400 participants expected
The forum will bring together over 400 participants, including government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, technical and financial partners (WHO, World Bank, UNFPA, UNICEF, European Union, Global Fund), private sector players, civil society representatives and national and international media.
The CNO has also confirmed the holding of parallel sessions in plenary and annex rooms, as well as an exhibition area dedicated to innovations in healthcare financing, where CNAMU, CAMA, PTFs and fintechs will present their solutions.
Major challenges for Burkina Faso
FONAFIS is taking place against a backdrop of far-reaching reforms. Burkina Faso currently devotes around 12% of its national budget to the health sector, still short of the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration. Direct payments by households account for 44% of total health expenditure, while dependence on external financing is around 21%. The forum aims to chart a credible course towards more sovereign and equitable financing.
The next step for the NOC will be to finalize the terms of reference for the sessions and confirm the final speakers, in preparation for an event that the Minister of Health, Dr Robert Lucien Jean-Claude KARGOUGOU, describes as a historic turning point for healthcare financing in Burkina Faso.