Congo Overhauls Health Governance With New National Council
Congo is replacing a health governance framework dating back to 1984 with a new council designed for current sector needs The council will bring government, health professionals, development partners and civil society into major policy discussions and reform reviews The reform supports a broader push to improve access to care,. . .
Congo is replacing a health governance framework dating back to 1984 with a new council designed for current sector needsThe council will bring government, health professionals, development partners and civil society into major policy discussions and reform reviewsThe reform supports a broader push to improve access to care, modernize infrastructure, strengthen staffing and expand universal health coverageCongo approved a draft decree establishing a new National Health Council during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, July 22. According to the Cabinet statement, the reform replaces the framework under which the former National Council for Health and Social Development operated. That body was established in 1984, and its legal framework is now considered ill-suited to current governance needs in the health sector. The new council is intended to promote more participatory governance, strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of the health system, improve coordination in decision-making at all levels, and help assess health policies and programs. “The National Health Council’s main mission will be to provide advice, recommendations and proposals on the country’s broad health policy priorities. It will promote consultation, inclusion and stronger governance across the health system,”the Cabinet said. The government added that the body would give the sector “an institutionalized forum for dialogue capable of supporting reforms and improving the effectiveness of public health policies for the benefit of the population. ”The National Health Council will serve as a strategic advisory body bringing together government representatives, public- and private-sector health professionals, technical and financial partners, and members of civil society. Its role will be to provide a formal channel through which these stakeholders can contribute to major health policy decisions, assess ongoing reforms and recommend adjustments where necessary. Reform Part of Health System ModernizationThe government is creating the council as part of a broader effort to transform Congo’s health system, expand universal health coverage, modernize infrastructure and strengthen primary health care, with support from the World Health Organization and other international partners. The modernization drive comes as the sector continues to face major structural constraints. These include unequal access to care between urban and rural areas, shortages of qualified personnel in remote regions, aging hospital infrastructure and the need to secure more sustainable financing for the health system. To address these challenges, the government and the WHO launched the 2025-2028 Country Cooperation Strategy in December 2025. The strategy is organized around five priorities: strengthening health system governance, developing human resources, modernizing infrastructure, expanding universal health coverage, and reducing social and regional disparities in access to care. Charlène N’dimon