Ouagadougou: Yemboaro Pac´me Lompo successfully defended his doctoral thesis on Friday at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University. His research focused on the implementation of the universal health insurance scheme (RAMU) in Burkina Faso, analyzing the dynamics and logics of the social actors involved in this process.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the thesis was presented at the Doctoral School of Arts, Humanities and Communication (ED/LESHCO) within the Interdisciplinary Research Laboratory in Social Sciences and Health (LARISS). It falls within the field of Human and Social Sciences, specializing in the Sociology/Anthropology of Health. Supervised by Professor Bouma Fernand Bationo, the thesis examines the social, political, economic, and international factors that led to the emergence of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme in Burkina Faso. Fieldwork was conducted in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso using a qualitative approach, including semi-structured interviews, direct observation, and document analysis with several institutional and social actors.

The study's findings indicate that the emergence of the Universal Health Insurance Scheme resulted from a combination of socio-health and political factors. The research highlights that political dynamics often influence the implementation of this public policy, while the perceptions of stakeholders remain mixed regarding its governance. However, civil society organizations played a crucial role in promoting and maintaining the RAMU project on the national political agenda, as well as in implementing its pilot phase.

For Lompo, the establishment of a public mechanism such as RAMU aims to address the challenges related to the affordability of healthcare and the low level of social protection in health in Burkina Faso. His thesis supervisor, Professor Bouma Fernand Bationo, praised the originality and relevance of the research, expressing hope that the conclusions could be used by public decision-makers to improve access to healthcare for the population.

Following the defense, the jury, chaired by Roger Zerbo, research director at INSS/CNRST, judged Lompo worthy of the degree of Doctor with the highest distinction. Lompo intends to continue his research work, particularly on the RAMU experimentation with civil servants in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso, as well as on the prospects for collaboration between the different social protection mechanisms and private insurance.