In December 2023, according to the Agence nationale de protection sociale (ANPS) (Wikipedia describes the agency, which has no website) 926,072 people living in the most extreme poverty have a health insurance card from ARCH and are entitled to receive free treatment, fully subsidized by the state, in public health facilities. A benefits package, established by interministerial decree, includes office visits and twenty-six conditions and interventions, including patient transport for referrals.
Key milestones achieved
Benin has reached several crucial milestones in improving its health system. Among notable reforms, the country adopted a holistic approach to universal health insurance, supported by international partners. For ARCH and all other social protection interventions the process for targeting populations living in poverty relied on participatory methods and means testing within the community to precisely and consensually identify beneficiaries. The country also received significant funding from the World Bank Group to strengthen and expand coverage of households living in poverty through the establishment of the Single Social Register and a productive social safety net, demonstrating a continued commitment to social inclusion and climate resilience.
The way ahead
The future of health coverage in Benin is discussed in the National Development Plan 2018-2025, as highlighted below. It implies the gradual extension of ARCH coverage to the entire population, starting with people living in the most extreme poverty. The country continues to work on legislative reforms and national health strategic plans to improve access and quality of health services. Beninese authorities, with the support of international partners, are working to ensure that SHP and HF reforms contribute effectively to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), notably SDG target 3.8 on universal health coverage.
