Mid-2025 Review Highlights Robust Activity
The Management Committee of the Bacongo Reference Hospital convened on November 13, 2025, in the Bacongo District Hall to assess first-half performance. The session brought together 30 members, including health authorities and advisors from the World Health Organization.
Participants learned that the facility conducted 10,916 outpatient consultations and 5,467 admissions between January and June, showing an admission rate of 50.08 percent and recording 40 deaths. Maternity services handled 1,080 births, including 282 by cesarean section, while community health teams monitored ten home deliveries.
Financial Resilience Despite Minimal Subsidies
In a context of constrained public funding, the hospital generated 193.5 million CFA francs in revenue against 195.2 million in expenses. A modest surplus of 514,269 francs, carried over from the previous year, allowed the accounts to be closed in balance, a result committee members described as “doing a lot with little.”
It was emphasized that cost-control initiatives, stricter procurement rules, and improved billing accuracy contributed to this positive outcome. The committee nevertheless urged the finance team to pursue diversified revenue sources, including through insurance partnerships and philanthropic grants, to ensure cash flow predictability.
Strengthening Human Resources and Ethics
The hospital currently employs 295 civil servants, 55 contract workers, and 141 interns. To anchor professional loyalty, a proposal for binding retention contracts for key staff was presented and unanimously approved by the committee. Officials believe this approach can reduce absenteeism and discourage informal payments.
A rejuvenated Medical-Technical Commission is also tasked with standardizing clinical protocols and auditing prescription patterns. “Our goal is to institutionalize best practices and protect patients from unnecessary costs,” explained the commission’s rapporteur after the vote.
Expanded Fee Schedule Maintains Base Price Stability
After a line-by-line discussion, members approved a new fee schedule that maintains current prices for routine procedures but incorporates emerging specialties such as teledermatology and endoscopy. It also clarifies the reimbursement framework for insured clients, a first for the Bacongo facility.
Social cases remain protected. The social service department will verify indigence and authorize exemptions, while priority national programs—malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV—will remain free. “Balancing equity and solvency is the primary goal,” stated the head of finance.
Local insurers welcomed the schedule’s transparency, stating it simplifies claims processing and discourages surprise billing.
Patient Charter Anchors Rights and Responsibilities
Complementing the pricing reform, the committee adopted a patient charter outlining rights to confidentiality, informed consent, and respectful treatment. It also defines responsibilities, including adherence to medical advice and timely payment of fees.
The document was described as a “social pact that elevates the hospital from a service point to a community institution.” Posters summarizing the charter will appear in waiting rooms, and staff will undergo briefing sessions to integrate its provisions.
Partnerships Accelerate Infrastructure Modernization
Beyond governance tools, the semester saw tangible facility improvements. A memorandum of understanding with an engineering firm enables the renovation of the old water circuit, a step expected to halve service interruptions and reduce infection risks.
Concurrently, construction crews are fitting out an obstetrics room to increase surgical capacity. The hospital also organized a free eye screening campaign, examining 618 residents and detecting 30 cataract cases and several instances of glaucoma. Funding came from a diaspora-led foundation, highlighting the role of civic actors in public health.
Cautious Optimism for the Coming Months
For the second half of the year, administrators plan to pilot electronic medical records, expand telemedicine for remote districts, and negotiate pooled procurement contracts for essential medicines. Discussions with the Ministry of Health regarding the limited restoration of subsidies are “progressing in good faith.”
Committee members scheduled a follow-up session for May 2026 to assess impact indicators. Until then, the hospital will monitor key metrics—bed turnover, stock-out frequency, and patient satisfaction—to ensure policy changes translate into measurable health gains.