Franck Nguema calls for effective healthcare reform at CNAMGS

Franck Nguema, former Minister of Youth and Sports, has demanded a fundamental overhaul of the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS). During a press conference held on June 8, 2026 in Akanda, he responded to discussions sparked by the World Health Organization’s 2025 report. Nguema argued that the main issue is not whether CNAMGS should exist, but whether it can actually provide quality care to its members. He noted that the WHO report does not label CNAMGS as a ‘fraud’ or ‘scam,’ but rather highlights the urgent need for systemic reform.

According to the former government official, Gabon has successfully built an extensive administrative health coverage system, enrolling nearly 76% of its population. However, this achievement remains hollow if beneficiaries still struggle to see a doctor, get medicine, receive hospital care, or obtain treatment within reasonable timeframes. Nguema believes this gap between promised coverage and actual experience fuels frustration among the insured and erodes trust in the social protection system.

Pushing for effective healthcare at CNAMGS

Franck Nguema proposes complementing the expansion of health coverage with a ‘national guarantee of effective medical coverage.’ CNAMGS’ performance should no longer be measured solely by the number of insured individuals or cards issued, but by concrete indicators such as healthcare access rates, medicine availability, treatment waiting times, and reduction of out-of-pocket expenses for households.

This shift would represent a true paradigm change, he believes. By putting health outcomes at the center of its mission, CNAMGS could become a tool for efficiency and poverty reduction. The former minister calls on authorities to embark on an ambitious reform that turns administrative coverage into genuinely effective medical protection for all Gabonese people.