Organ Donation and Palliative Care: Burkina Faso Proposes New Health Code

The Council of Ministers of Burkina Faso adopted a draft law on the public health code on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in Ouagadougou. This legislation aims to replace the existing law, which has been in effect since 1994 and is considered outdated in light of new medical practices and the need for sector regulation.

The draft introduces provisions on organ donation and explicitly includes palliative care at all levels of the healthcare system. It also calls for enhanced health vigilance and regulation of the pharmaceutical market.

A 32-Year-Old Law to be Replaced

The current code is based on law n° 23/94/ADP from May 19, 1994. This legislation primarily governs public health protection, the practice of health professions, and pharmaceutical products. The adoption of the new draft by the Council of Ministers does not yet mean it is in effect; the text must continue through the legislative process.

The proposed reform also encompasses the private health sector, forensic medicine, and plastic surgery. Additionally, it establishes a health reserve corps, intended to provide a legal basis for mobilizing reinforcements when necessary.

The government report does not publish the full text of the draft. Therefore, the conditions for organ donation, funding for palliative care, the activation procedures for the health reserve, and the timeline for parliamentary review have not yet been specified.