Organisation of the Health System in Benin

Over the last decade, Benin's economic situation has deteriorated considerably, leading to a profound deterioration in social services such as health and education. This economic crisis has reduced the state's capacity to intervene in financing the country's development. Despite the more or less constant increase in the health budget and the increase in the sector's operating expenses, some peripheral health services are in dire need of medicines and medical-technical equipment. With the implementation of vigorous economic and financial restructuring programmes, supported by the Bretton Woods Institutions and development partners, Benin is creating the conditions for strong and sustainable growth of its economy. This programme, like any economic and financial recovery policy, has a social cost. The economic crisis and the implications of the Bretton Woods Institutions on health services are being mitigated in Benin by various donor and NGO funded Primary Health Care programmes and projects.