Burkina Faso eases rules to let public health specialists work in private sector

In a temporary and exceptional measure, the Burkina Faso Ministry of Health has authorized public-sector specialist doctors, pharmacists, dental surgeons, and hospital-university lecturers to continue working part-time in private health facilities. The decision, announced Monday, follows the expiration of previous authorizations at the end of September 2025 and comes amid intense pressure on the national healthcare system.

While a 2023 decree strictly regulated such dual practice, the ministry has adopted a pragmatic approach in response to critical realities: staff shortages, long waiting times, and a growing need for specialized care.

This temporary permission aims to preserve the continuity of medical services without further weakening public structures.

For the public, the move offers hope. In a country where the doctor-to-patient ratio remains well below WHO standards, allowing private sector consultations can help decongest often-overwhelmed public hospitals.

Patients can access specialized care more quickly in private clinics without causing a rupture in the availability of doctors at public institutions.

The flexibility also benefits the public system by promoting a better distribution of the workload and optimizing medical expertise.

 For instance, hospital-university lecturers can continue training future health professionals while maintaining their private practice.

This transitional measure seeks to fulfill a dual requirement: ensuring quality care and preserving the stability of the health system.

The ongoing challenge will be to balance this openness with rigorous management of public service hours, ensuring the population fully benefits from practitioners’ expertise without compromising public hospital functions.

Emile YEMPABE