On 26 June 2026, the Senate of the Republic of Cameroon welcomed the Minister of Public Health, who presented the first results of the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiative launched in 2023. More than 9 million Cameroonians, roughly a third of the population, now enjoy expanded medical coverage. The announcement, made in the heart of the parliamentary session, immediately prompted senators to question the sustainability of the scheme.
UHC was designed from the outset to guarantee access to essential health services, especially for the most vulnerable groups. Key measures include free maternal care, which removed financial barriers for pregnant women, and the provision of HIV/AIDS and malaria treatment, strengthening the fight against two leading causes of morbidity. The programme also planned the expansion of dialysis centres, addressing a critical need in regions where renal services were previously absent.
Before the senators, the minister detailed the key figures: more than 9 million beneficiaries, 1.2 million deliveries covered free of charge, 850 000 patients on antiretroviral therapy, and 300 000 antimalarial treatments distributed. He highlighted that the new dialysis centres, now twelve in number, reduce the need for patients to travel to major cities. These indicators, presented as milestones, illustrate the rapid progress of the project in less than three years.
Despite these successes, the Senate reminded that the legal framework for UHC remains incomplete. Parliamentarians urged the government to consolidate the legislation to ensure continued financing and governance of the system. The interpellation underscored the need for a framework law that incorporates social partners, private insurers and local authorities, to avoid regional disparities.
For the Cameroonian citizen, UHC represents a shield against medical precariousness. Free maternal care has already enabled thousands of women to access safe deliveries, reducing maternal deaths. Free HIV/AIDS treatment contributes to lowering vertical transmission. Moreover, malaria coverage during the rainy season eases household expenses, often strained by unexpected costs.
Nevertheless, several obstacles remain. The programme’s financing still relies heavily on external aid and the national budget, whose stability is not guaranteed. Lack of infrastructure in rural areas limits the health network’s effectiveness, and a shortage of qualified staff hampers the expansion of dialysis services. Without solid legislation, monitoring and audit mechanisms remain fragile, exposing the system to potential abuses.
Consequently, senators demanded a clear timetable for the adoption of the law and the establishment of a multipartite monitoring committee. The coming months will be decisive in turning current gains into a sustainable system capable of covering the entire population by the next decade. Developments are awaited, but the momentum generated since 2023 points to a genuine ambition for universal health care in Cameroon.
