Franck Nguema, former Minister of Youth and Sports, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of the Caisse Nationale d’Assurance Maladie et de Garantie Sociale (CNAMGS). Speaking at a press briefing on June 8, 2026, in Akanda, Nguema addressed the ongoing discussions prompted by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 report. He asserted that the core challenge isn’t questioning CNAMGS’s existence, but rather its ability to ensure genuine access to quality medical services for its members. He clarified that the WHO report does not label CNAMGS as a “fraud” or “scam,” but instead underscores the urgent need for systemic reform.
According to the former government official, Gabon has successfully established substantial administrative medical coverage, with nearly 76% of the population registered. However, this progress remains inadequate if beneficiaries consistently face obstacles in consulting a doctor, obtaining medications, securing hospital admission, or receiving timely care. He believes this disparity between declared coverage and the lived experience fuels frustration among the insured and erodes trust in the social protection system.
Advocating for effective care at CNAMGS
Franck Nguema thus proposes to supplement the current logic of expanding health coverage with a “national guarantee of effective medical care.” He argues that CNAMGS’s effectiveness should no longer be solely measured by the number of insured individuals or cards issued, but rather by tangible benchmarks such as the rate of access to care, the availability of essential medicines, the timeliness of treatment, and the reduction of out-of-pocket expenses for households.
This evolution, he explains, would mark a significant paradigm shift. By prioritizing tangible health outcomes, CNAMGS could transform into an instrument of performance and a vital tool in the fight against poverty. The former minister therefore urges authorities to undertake an ambitious reform aimed at transforming administrative coverage into truly effective medical care, benefiting all Gabonese populations.
