Franck Nguema urges CNAMGS reform for genuine healthcare access

Former Minister of Youth and Sports, Franck Nguema, called for a deep reform of the National Health Insurance and Social Guarantee Fund (CNAMGS) during a press conference held on June 8, 2026, in Akanda. Reacting to debates sparked by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2025 report, he argued that the real issue is not questioning CNAMGS’s existence but rather its ability to guarantee real access to quality care for beneficiaries. According to him, the WHO report does not label CNAMGS as a “fraud” or “scam” but underscores the urgent need for systemic reform.

For the former government member, Gabon has succeeded in establishing substantial administrative medical coverage, with nearly 76% of the population registered. However, this progress remains insufficient if beneficiaries continue to face difficulties in consulting a doctor, obtaining medications, being hospitalized, or receiving care within reasonable delays. He believes this gap between announced coverage and actual coverage fuels beneficiary frustration and undermines trust in the social protection system.

Towards effective healthcare at CNAMGS

Franck Nguema proposes completing the health coverage extension logic with a “national guarantee of effective medical coverage.” CNAMGS performance should no longer be evaluated solely by the number of insured or cards issued, but also by concrete criteria such as the access-to-care rate, medication availability, care delays, and reduction of out-of-pocket expenses for households.

According to him, this evolution would mark a true paradigm shift. By placing health outcomes at the core of its action, CNAMGS would become an instrument of performance and poverty reduction. The former minister invites authorities to undertake an ambitious reform to transform administrative coverage into truly effective medical coverage for the benefit of all Gabonese populations.