Ministry of Health and Wellness (Mauritius)

Ministry of Health and Wellness
Ministère de la Santé et du Bien-être
Agency overview
Formed1963
JurisdictionGovernment of Mauritius
Headquarters
Ministers responsible
Agency executive
  • P. Mawah, Acting Chief Executive[1]
Websitehealth.govmu.org

The Ministry of Health and Wellness (French: Ministère de la Santé et du Bien-être) is a ministry in the government of Mauritius responsible for health.[2]

Anil Bachoo of the Labour Party is the current minister responsible since November 2024, serving under prime minister Navin Ramgoolam's fourth government.[3] Anishta Babooram serves as the junior minister since August 2025.[4]

History

Following the departure of the Mauritian Militant Movement from Navin Ramgoolam's government, Kishore Deerpalsing was appointed after a reshuffle occurred in July 1997. The ministry was subsequently renamed to the ministry of Health and Quality of Life, with the portfolio of Quality and Life being transferred from the ministry of Environment. Ashok Jugnauth would succeed Deerpalsing as minister and would continue to serve in that capacity under the rotation government of Anerood Jugnauth and Paul Bérenger until 2005.

Under Navin Ramgoolam's second government, Satish Faugoo was appointed as minister until a reshuffle in September 2008, with Rajesh Jeetah succeeding him on the post. After the victory of Ramgoolam's alliance in the general election held in 2010, Maya Hanoomanjee of the MSM was appointed as minister. She would go on to serve a troublesome period as minister due to accusations of corruption towards a contract for a clinic linked to Pravind Jugnauth, leader of the MSM. The public outcry of the MedPoint deal led to the resignation and departure of the MSM from the government in July 2011.[5] Lormus Bundhoo would succeed Hanoomanjee as minister and served in that capcity until 2014.

After the comeback of Anerood Jugnauth in elections held in 2014, Anil Gayan of the Muvman Liberater was appointed as minister. He would continue to hold the post until the elder Jugnauth's resignation as prime minister in favour of the younger Jugnauth in January 2017. Anwar Husnoo, who was a member of the ML until defecting to the MSM in late 2019, was appointed as health minister under Pravind Jugnauth's first government.

Kailesh Jagutpal was appointed as minister in November 2019 under Pravind Jugnauth's second government and subsequently a modification of the ministry's portfolio name occurred, which renamed it to the ministry of Health and Wellness. Anil Bachoo of the Labour Party succeeded Jagutpal and appointed to the Fourth Navin Ramgoolam cabinet in November 2024.[3]

Responsibilities

The ministry has the overall responsibility with the accessibility of equitable and quality health services to Mauritians and with the promotion of healthy lifestyle. As the ministry responsible for health, it advocates for policies aimed to increased efficiency and effectiveness in the health care system whilst balancing customer satisfaction.[6]

In addition, it is also responsible for the control and prevention of diseases within the country and to provide for facilities for treatment of diseases. The rehabilitation of disabled people are also under its responsibility.[6]

Within the profession, the ministry controls the practice of professionals including those in the field of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and other allied health professionals. The provision of facilities for training of medical and paramedical staff and those working within the ministry are under its duties.[2]

Any reports prepared or published related to health are within the functions of the ministry and as well as the initiation of and conducting of biomedial health studies of important and major diseases in Mauritius.[2]

Organisation

Departments

The ministry is divided in the following departments:[7]

  • HIV/AIDS and Harm Reduction Unit
  • Hospital Services
  • Office Accommodation Unit
  • Planning, Finance and International Cooperation Unit
  • Primary Health Care Unit
  • Procurement and Supply Unit
  • Project Implementation Unit
  • Training and Research Unit
  • Public Health Unit
  • NCD, Health Promotion and Research Unit

List of ministers

Portrait Name Term of office Portfolio name Party Prime minister Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
Kher Jagatsingh 27 December
1969		 August
1971		 Health PTr S. Ramgoolam
Harold Water August
1971		 27 December
1976		 PTr
Mahess Teeluck 27 December
1976		 24 November
1979		 2 years, 332 days PTr
Beergoonath Ghurburrun 16 January
1980		 15 June
1982		 2 years, 150 days PTr
Jocelyn Seenyen 15 June
1982		 22 March
1983		 280 days PSM A. Jugnauth [8]
[9]
Jagdishwar Goburdhun 28 March
1983		 27 August
1983		 152 days PSM [10]
MSM
Kailash Purryag January
1984		 December
1985		 PTr [11]
Jagdishwar Goburdhun 15 August
1988		 25 September
1990		 2 years, 41 days MSM
Prem Nababsing 25 September
1990		 27 August
1993		 2 years, 336 days MMM
Régis Finette 27 August
1993		 22 December
1995		 2 years, 117 days MMM
RMM
Kadress Pillay 30 December
1995		 2 July
1997		 1 year, 184 days PTr N. Ramgoolam [12]
[13]
[14]
Kishore Deerpalsing 2 July
1997		 15 September
2000		 3 years, 75 days Health and Quality of Life PTr [15]
Ashok Jugnauth 18 September
2000		 5 July
2005		 4 years, 290 days MSM A. Jugnauth [16]
[17]
Bérenger
Satish Faugoo 7 July
2005		 13 September
2008		 3 years, 68 days PTr N. Ramgoolam [18]
Rajesh Jeetah 13 September
2008		 11 May
2010		 1 year, 240 days PTr [18]
Maya Hanoomanjee 11 May
2010		 26 July
2011		 1 year, 76 days MSM
Lormus Bundhoo 7 August
2011		 13 December
2014		 3 years, 139 days PTr [18]
Anil Gayan 15 December
2014		 23 January
2017		 2 years, 39 days ML A. Jugnauth [19]
Anwar Husnoo 23 January
2017		 12 November
2019		 2 years, 293 days ML P. Jugnauth [20]
MSM
Kailesh Jagutpal 12 November
2019		 12 November
2024		 5 years Health and Wellness MSM [20]
Anil Bachoo 22 November
2024		 Incumbent 1 year, 278 days PTr N. Ramgoolam [21]

References

  1. ↑ "Key Staff (Headquarters) - Ministry of Health and Wellness". health.govmu.org. Ministry of Health and Wellness. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Annual Report on Performance for Financial Year 2024-2025" (PDF). health.govmu.org. Ministry of Health and Wellness. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Swearing-In Ceremony of Newly Appointed Ministers". govmu.org. GIS Mauritius. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2025.
  4. ↑ "Conflit à l'Égalité des genres: La «junior minister» Anishta Babooram nommée à la Santé". lexpress.mu (in French). L'Express. 7 August 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Ile Maurice : démission collective de six ministres du gouvernement de la coalition". rfi.fr (in French). Radio France Internationale. 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2025.
  6. 1 2 "The Ministry - Ministry of Health and Wellness". health.govmu.org. Ministry of Health and Wellness. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  7. ↑ "Departments - Ministry of Health and Wellness". health.govmu.org. Ministry of Health and Wellness. Retrieved 20 May 2026.
  8. ↑ "Après le triomphe électorale de la gauche M. Aneerood Jugnauth est nommé premier ministre". lemonde.fr (in French). Le Monde. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "11 ministres démissionnent du gouvernement MMM-PSM". lexpress.mu (in French). L'Express. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "Nine new ministers join Jugnauth's government". Le Mauricien. 28 March 1983. Retrieved 28 February 2025 – via Sub-Saharan Africa Report, No. 2818, 7 July 1983, pp. 31-32.
  11. ↑ "Prime Minister Reshuffles Cabinet 15 Aug". Agence-France Presse. 15 August 1988. Retrieved 16 February 2025 – via FBIS Daily Report Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 August 1988, p. 6.
  12. ↑ "Mauritius: Opposition election victory". Keesing's Record of World Events. December 1995. p. 40854. Retrieved 9 September 2025 – via Keesing's Record of World Events 1995: Vol 41 Iss 12.
  13. ↑ "Mauritius: Government changes". Keesing's Record of World Events. July 1997. p. 41721. Retrieved 29 August 2025 – via Keesing's Record of World Events 1997: Vol 43 7-8.
  14. ↑ "Mauritius: Keep it small". Africa Intelligence. 30 November 1996. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  15. ↑ "Mauritius: Government and Politics". Political Handbook of the World 2014. 2014. p. 927. Retrieved 13 October 2025.
  16. ↑ "Mauritius: New President and Cabinet". Keesing's Record of World Events. October 2003. p. 45633. Retrieved 9 September 2025 – via Keesing's Record of World Events 2003: Vol 49 Iss 10.
  17. ↑ "Mauritius: Government changes". Keesing's Record of World Events. December 2003. pp. 45729–45730. Retrieved 9 September 2025 – via Keesing's Record of World Events 2003: Vol 49 Iss 12.
  18. 1 2 3 "Elected members of Legislative Election 2005". mauritiusassembly.govmu.org. Mauritius National Assembly. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  19. ↑ "Elected members of Legislative Election 2014". mauritiusassembly.govmu.org. Mauritius National Assembly. Retrieved 18 February 2025.
  20. 1 2 "List of Honourable Members - National Assembly Elections 2019". mauritiusassembly.govmu.org. Mauritius National Assembly. Retrieved 16 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Press Release - Office of the President". facebook.com. GIS Mauritius. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
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