Gabon: President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema launches structural reform of the healthcare system
On January 20, 2026, President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema convened a strategic meeting with healthcare stakeholders. This consultation resulted in the idea of the creation of key institutions aimed at restructuring the national health system and addressing social emergencies.
Three major measures were approved: the establishment of a High Health Authority, the reinstatement of the National Health Council, and the creation of a permanent monitoring committee.
This institutional trio is designed to sustainably regulate health policy and improve the quality of services provided to the population.
The presidential initiative reflects a desire to move away from an often sporadic and reactive approach toward establishing continuous and predictable oversight.
The High Health Authority will notably be responsible for supervising quality standards and ensuring better hospital governance.
This overhaul takes place in a context of high public expectation, where equitable access to healthcare is a national priority.
The government thus aims to transform the day-to-day management of health facilities and strengthen user confidence.
The reform undertaken sets Gabon on the path toward an ambitious modernization of its health sector, aligning its decision-making structures with the real needs of the population and international public health standards.
Gilbert FOTSO
