Togo Expands Universal Health Insurance to Self-Employed Workers

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Wednesday, 08 October 2025 09:45

Togo Expands Universal Health Insurance to Self-Employed Workers

Togo’s CNSS extends Universal Health Insurance (AMU) to self-employed workers, including artisans, farmers, traders, and individual entrepreneurs.
The program uses a flexible, advance-contribution system ranging from CFA10,000 to CFA102,000 annually, covering preventive, curative, and hospital care for up to six dependents.
CNSS launches a digital platform to facilitate online enrollment and payment, aiming to increase coverage of the informal sector, a critical component of Togo’s economy.

Togo’s National Social Security Fund (CNSS) officially expanded its Universal Health Insurance program (AMU) to non-salaried workers on October 7, 2025, in Lomé. The extension targets thousands of self-employed actors in the informal economy, previously excluded from formal health coverage.

CNSS Director-General Ingrid Awadé described the reform as “a social justice imperative and a lever for sustainable development.” She emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s vision of universal social protection, now encompassing the informal sector, which constitutes a significant portion of Togo’s economy.

The AMU for self-employed workers operates on a flexible, advance-payment system. Contributors may pay 10,000 FCFA per month, CFA28,500 per quarter, CFA54,000 per semester, or CFA102,000 per year. A 90-day waiting period precedes access to benefits.

The scheme covers up to six dependents and provides preventive, curative, and hospital care, along with partial coverage for laboratory tests and essential medications. CNSS suspends benefits after two months of non-payment to maintain program sustainability.

To simplify participation, CNSS launched a digital platform accessible via its website and mobile apps. The platform enables self-employed workers to register, contribute, and manage payments online, supporting broader financial inclusion and streamlined administration.

This article was iniitally published in French by Ayi Renaud Dossavi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

REFORMS OVERVIEW

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