Students at Cameroon’s 11 state universities are set to receive individual health coverage and accident insurance under a new agreement signed on Jan. 30, 2026, the Ministry of Higher Education (Minesup) said.
The deal was signed with an insurance consortium including Zenith Insurance and Lothe Consulting Assurance. The cost of the policy was not disclosed.
In a statement, Minesup said the agreement provides for student treatment in public hospitals and other approved health facilities. It also includes support to help upgrade equipment and services at university health centres.
The ministry said the insurance scheme will be fully subsidised, with Minesup covering 40% of the cost and state universities paying the remaining 60%.
Minesup noted that the initiative comes amid limited social protection and poor access to healthcare for much of the population, and is part of the government’s objective to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Cameroon has one state university in each of its 10 regions, except for the Centre region, which is home to two.
According to Minesup figures, the country had more than 700,000 students in 2023, with more than half enrolled in public institutions. More than 30,000 young Cameroonians are also officially registered as students abroad.
Ludovic Amara
