On November 6, 2026, Benin's Health Minister, Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin, installed 26 members in two national health councils in Cotonou. The councils, the Conseil national des soins de santé primaire (Cnssp) and the Conseil national de la médecine hospitalière (Cnmh), aim to enhance healthcare quality and enforce standards in the country's health facilities. This move marks a new phase in the governance of Benin's health sector.
The installed members will serve a four-year term, with 13 members in each council. Their responsibilities include defining national policies, developing norms and protocols, and monitoring resource management. The Cnssp focuses on primary healthcare, while the Cnmh oversees hospital services. Both councils will also evaluate the implementation of healthcare programs and assess the effectiveness of evacuation procedures.
The new councils take over from the first mandate, which produced reference documents, norms, and tools to improve healthcare practices. Minister Hounkpatin commended the previous council's work and emphasized the need for the new members to ensure that the developed documents are not just administrative papers but are effectively implemented. He urged the councils to translate the elaborated texts into tangible improvements in healthcare delivery.
Marcel Zannou, reappointed as president of the Cnmh, expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic for the confidence placed in the council members. He outlined the next four years as a period of consolidation and systemic transformation, aiming to strengthen the Beninese healthcare system's functioning sustainably. The councils are expected to play a crucial role in achieving this goal.
The installation ceremony was attended by Toussaint Jean Léon Olory-Togbé, president of the Autorité de régulation du secteur de la santé. The minister highlighted the significance of the councils' roles, as defined by decrees n° 2019-405 and n° 2019-406 of September 25, 2019. The councils' effectiveness will be crucial in enhancing healthcare services and meeting the needs of the Beninese population.
The government aims to ensure that the healthcare system provides quality services and meets international standards. The installation of the new council members is a step towards achieving this objective. The councils will work to address existing challenges and develop strategies to improve healthcare outcomes in Benin.
The new councils will work closely with stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, patients, and communities, to ensure that their needs are met. The government expects the councils to be proactive in identifying areas for improvement and implementing reforms to enhance the overall quality of healthcare services in Benin.
Key points
- The Beninese government has installed 26 members in two national health councils to improve healthcare quality and oversight.
