Benin installs 26 members to oversee primary and hospital care

Benin's healthcare sector has new leadership with the installation of 26 members to oversee primary and hospital care. The Minister of Health, Professor Benjamin Hounkpatin, led the installation ceremony in Cotonou on November 6, 2026. The members are part of the second term of the National Council for Primary Health Care (CNSSP) and the National Council for Hospital Medicine (CNMH). They will serve a four-year term.

The CNSSP and CNMH were established by decrees in 2019 to improve healthcare in Benin. The CNSSP focuses on primary healthcare, defining national policies and strategies, and contributing to the development of norms and protocols. The CNMH oversees hospital medicine, including the definition of conditions for medical evacuation and monitoring their implementation. The councils have complementary roles in improving healthcare quality.

During the installation ceremony, Minister Hounkpatin acknowledged the achievements of the councils during their first term. He highlighted the development of reference documents to guide practices and improve healthcare quality. The minister emphasized the need for the new members to implement these documents effectively, translating their work into concrete changes in patient care.

The Minister of Health expects the new members to take the healthcare sector to the next level. He stressed the importance of moving beyond normative work to tangible improvements in patient care. The members have been tasked with consolidating gains and driving systemic transformation in the healthcare sector.

Marcel Zannou, President of the CNMH for the second term, expressed gratitude to the Head of State for the trust placed in them. He outlined the next four years as a period of consolidation and transformation, aiming to strengthen the Beninese healthcare system sustainably. The new members are expected to build on the foundations laid by their predecessors.

The installation ceremony was attended by Toussaint Jean Léon Olory-Togbé, President of the Health Sector Regulatory Authority. The event marked a significant milestone in Benin's healthcare sector, with the new members poised to drive improvements in primary and hospital care. The sector is expected to benefit from their expertise and experience.

The new members will face the challenge of implementing healthcare norms and protocols effectively. They will work to improve healthcare quality, ensure equitable resource distribution, and evaluate the effectiveness of healthcare programs. Their success will be crucial in strengthening Benin's healthcare system and improving health outcomes for its citizens.

Key points

• The installation of 26 members to oversee primary and hospital care in Benin aims to improve healthcare quality and outcomes.
• The new members will serve a four-year term and are expected to build on previous achievements in the healthcare sector.
• The National Council for Primary Health Care and the National Council for Hospital Medicine have complementary roles in improving healthcare in Benin.