Benin
P4H network follow-up mission
December 2012 – Based on the recommendations of the joint P4H scoping mission (See below), a P4H follow-up mission in Benin consults with key national stakeholders to: determine the amount of progress that has been made on RAMU; monitor with P4H members the implementation of the joint support plan; and to agree with key partners on the support system for drafting a national health financing strategy.
The main findings of the follow-up mission are: that the draft RAMU bill has evolved positively towards a universal approach despite not yet being tabled in Parliament; that ANAM’s capacity to become operational is slowly developing; that important costing and utilization data as well as a national health financing strategy are still missing. The Ministry of Health welcomes the WHO regional adviser on health financing’s proposed support in accelerating the health financing strategy drafting process.
Arrival of WHO regional adviser on health financing policy
November 2012 - An international adviser on health financing policy is deployed in Ouagadougou as part of the WHO contribution to the P4H joint support plans in Benin, Burkina and Mali. Based in the WHO-IST Intercountry Support Team, the WHO adviser will build national capacity in the area of health financing and support the national processes related to drafting a national health financing strategy in the above-mentioned countries.
Joint P4H scoping mission
February 2012 - A joint P4H scoping mission comprised of WHO, World Bank, France, Switzerland, USAID, Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC) and the P4H Coordination Desk takes place from 5 to 11 February 2011. The mission notes that among Benin’s strengths in moving towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) are: very strong political backing, notably from the President of the Republic who is personally involved and closely monitoring developments; and some useful experience in working with health financing instruments such as Community Based Health Insurance (CBHI) and exemption schemes. Benin’s UHC plans are also supported by several development partners.
The main recommendations of the scoping mission team include the setting up of a high level Réseau d'Assurance Maladie Universelle (RAMU) steering committee, chaired by the institution in charge of government coordination and the simplification of RAMU’s architecture by splitting it into two blocks, comprising formal and informal sector households. The team also recommends that the recently formed Agence Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (ANAM) absorb all exemption mechanisms (free caesarean section, indigent fund, etc.) in stages and start its operations as soon as possible. On the legal front, the team recommends the swift passage of the RAMU bill and the preparation of any other legal documents needed. With regard to finance, the team recommends the allocation of adequate funding for RAMU in the next and following government budgets to ensure sufficient subsidy for the informal sector, and to start work immediately on RAMU financial projections. Finally, the team recommends that work start on a RAMU identification system, and the restructuring of the CBHI networks.
UHC scheme launch
December 2011 - RAMU is formally launched on 19th December 2011 by the President of the Republic of Benin who commits to making universal health coverage (UHC) a reality for the citizens of his country.
Second UHC milestone report
November 2011 - After comments on the first "Milestone report on RAMU" were provided by the different stakeholders involved, RAMU’s intersectoral technical committee prepares a second, government-endorsed "Milestone Report on RAMU". This document along with a draft RAMU bill and related draft administrative orders are circulated among the P4H network in preparation for the P4H scoping mission.
Ministry of Health request for P4H support
October 2011 -The Benin Minister of Health approaches P4H with a request for technical support in the implementation of RAMU. Specifically, P4H is called upon to analyze the government’s plans to implement the RAMU scheme and to provide feedback on its architecture, its technical and financial feasibility, and the proposed roadmap. P4H is also asked to make recommendations, to identify support needs, and to draft a first P4H joint support plan.
Drafting of the first UHC milestone report
July 2011 - After a lengthy period of consultation, the RAMU intersectoral technical committee drafts a first "Milestone Report on RAMU", Benin’s prospective Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, and circulates it among several development partners and the P4H Coordination Desk (P4H-CD).