Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso's Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo opened the first National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) on Wednesday, marking a pivotal step towards reducing the country's dependency on external partners for health system financing. The forum is aimed at fostering a self-reliant health system, emphasizing the need for internal financing to address the pressing needs of the population.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Prime Minister Ouedraogo highlighted the longstanding reliance on external funding and expertise, which has resulted in over a third of health expenses being borne directly by households. This situation has forced many families to make difficult choices between healthcare and basic sustenance. In alignment with President Captain Ibrahim Traore's directives, Burkina Faso plans to establish its own health priorities to benefit its citizens.
Speaking in Ouagadougou at the FONAFIS opening, Ouedraogo emphasized the importance of financing the health system through internal resources and local production of essential medicines and equipment. He pointed out the inconsistency in promoting food, energy, and security sovereignty while relying on external sources for healthcare.
The Minister of Economy and Finance, Aboubakar Nacanabo, who sponsored the event, underscored the urgency of internal financing as a critical political act, asserting that health should be a fundamental right rather than a privilege. He advocated for a shift towards an efficient endogenous model.
The forum focuses on implementing innovative financing mechanisms, developing a national pharmaceutical industry, promoting traditional medicine, and ensuring universal access to healthcare. It has attracted participation from several African countries, including Senegal, Gambia, Chad, Mali, and Niger, along with delegations from Guinea and Djibouti.
The conclusions of FONAFIS 2026, expected on March 27, 2026, will outline the strategic guidelines for a health system that is more resilient, equitable, and based on national sovereignty.