Health in Gabon

The Ministry of Health organizes services through 10 health regions and health districts. Public, private commercial and faith-based providers operate Centres de santé, dispensaires, Centres Médicaux and community health houses called cases de santé communautaire. These facilities commonly provide basic medical care, paediatrics, obstetric services, diagnostic tests, treatment and prevention. A Hôpital Départemental can provide referral and technical support, while a Centre Hospitalier Régional or Centre Hospitalier Universitaire handles needs requiring broader specialist or emergency capacity. The service des urgences is available at some hospitals, but emergency access and local contact arrangements depend on the facility; do not assume one nationwide emergency telephone number without confirming it locally. Gabon’s health system remains hospital-centred. The Politique Nationale de Santé 2024-2034 and PNDS 2024-2028 prioritize decentralization, primary health care, community-based services, disease surveillance, universal health coverage and digital health records. Primary health care means the first level of prevention, examination and treatment close to where people live. Rural areas generally face weaker access than urban areas, and the exact services, staffing, opening times and referral arrangements differ by location. Routine childhood vaccinations are provided through the Programme Élargi de Vaccination, known as PEV. Required vaccinations for children aged 0 to 11 months are free at public facilities and should be recorded in the carnet de vaccination or carnet de santé. In 2026, the programme is working to reach children who have received no doses or have missed follow-up, including through the Atteindre Chaque District approach. A second measles dose and additional pneumococcal, rotavirus, HPV and malaria vaccines have been announced progressively; local availability and eligibility should be checked with the facility. Malaria has high transmission throughout Gabon. The 2023 national profile placed the entire population in a high-transmission zone and recorded P. falciparum as the malaria parasite. Tuberculosis, HIV and sexually transmitted infections, measles, undernutrition and non-communicable diseases also require health-service attention. Reported antiretroviral treatment coverage rose from 59% to 76% in 2024 after community-based services were reactivated, but access still depends on the local pathway and facility. Pregnancy care includes consultations prénatales, skilled delivery in a clinic, emergency obstetric and newborn care, and postnatal checks for the mother and newborn. Coverage of individual appointments and services varies by facility, and rural access is substantially weaker. Medicines are supplied through public facilities, pharmacies and private or faith-based providers. The Liste Nationale des Médicaments et Dispositifs Médicaux Essentiels 2024 identifies essential medicines and devices, but stock, dispensing arrangements and prices vary by region and provider; no single national price or waiting-time estimate is reliable. Mental-health services include the Centre National de Santé Mentale and specialized mental-health centres or units in approved public and private institutions. They can provide medical treatment, hospitalization and reintegration support. Under the applicable code, admission may be voluntary, administrative, judicial, in an emergency or requested by a parent, depending on the situation. Follow-up may use referral back to a lower-level facility, the carnet de santé or vaccination record, and continuing care for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and non-communicable diseases. Centres de santé and dispensaires may also provide care at home or in the community under the legal framework. The eGabon-SIS system is being developed to connect facilities with prescriptions and patient data and to improve continuity of care. The Constitution guarantees state health protection, particularly for children, women, people with disabilities and older people, but it does not expressly create an individual constitutional right to health. Parents and tutors are responsible for required childhood vaccinations and their documentation. CNAMGS can improve financial protection, while out-of-pocket payments and unequal distribution of resources remain access challenges; insurance and detailed cost rules belong to the separate insurance and costs topics.