The initial National Forum on Health Financing (FONAFIS) in Burkina Faso, launched on March 25th by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo in Ouagadougou, successfully concluded on March 27th.

This significant high-level forum brought together key political figures, both domestic and international health experts, and Technical and Financial Partners (PTF). Discussions centered on crucial issues such as bolstering resource mobilization and decreasing reliance on foreign funding for public health initiatives across Africa. A primary objective for the organizers was also to enhance the African continent’s health system resilience against various crises.

On March 25th, Mohamed Janabi, the Regional Director for Africa at the World Health Organization (WHO), presented an overview of the current state of health financing in Africa. He highlighted a significant statistic: a quarter of the region’s total health expenditures originates from external sources.

Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo subsequently emphasized that health sovereignty forms a cornerstone of Burkina Faso’s national transformation agenda. This agenda aligns with the “Révolution progressive populaire” (RPP), which commenced in September 2022. He further reiterated his nation’s executive commitment to independently funding its healthcare system.