The Evolving Healthcare System

In response to increasing pressure on public hospitals, the government is focusing on prevention, digital solutions, and strengthening partnerships with the private sector. However, tensions remain high regarding human resources and access to care.

Within the corridors of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, there’s a shared observation: the Mauritian healthcare system is at breaking point. Rising demand, budget constraints, staff shortages, and recurring issues with medicine supply have been signaling alarms for years. By 2026, however, the government is ambitious: to transform this inherited model into a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable system.

"Ensuring equitable access to quality care while ensuring the resilience and sustainability of the public system amid budgetary constraints and increasing demand pressure," summarizes Anil Bachoo, Minister of Health and Wellness. Behind this declaration lies a reality: the Mauritian state can no longer shoulder everything alone. The private sector, currently serving 27% of the population and projected to reach 33% by 2026 according to Dr. Dawood Oaris, president of the Private Clinics Association, is no longer a marginal actor but an essential partner in the system's overhaul.

"The dual public and private healthcare system has always existed in Mauritius," Dr. Oaris reminds us. What has changed is the scale of the phenomenon. With the rise of private clinics, better insurance coverage, improved economic conditions for part of the population, and a search for intimacy—especially among pregnant women—the private sector is asserting itself as a complementary pillar of the system. "Those who can afford to consult privately have the choice of their treating physician, are generally covered by insurance, and can benefit from private rooms with amenities. They have a constitutional right to do so," he insists.

This rise is not random. It addresses structural deficiencies in the public system that the government is attempting to rectify through an ambitious reform strategy focused on three areas: strengthening prevention and early care, particularly for non-communicable diseases; modernizing governance through digitization and better care coordination; and investing in human capital. "No healthcare system can perform well without motivated, supported, and recognized professionals," Minister Bachoo emphasizes.

For him, the transition is inevitable. "Balancing quality of care, accessibility, and financial sustainability requires moving from an essentially curative model to a more integrated one, focused on prevention, proximity care, and efficiency." This ambition also involves better spending planning, reducing waste, increasing transparency in public procurement, and prioritizing high-impact investments.