Established on October 30, 1962 for a capacity of 350 beds, the "350 beds" Hospital has become the National Hospital and University Center of Cotonou (CNHU-C), As of December 31, 2011, CNHU - HKM de Cotonou has 617 beds, including 29 observation and intensive care beds at the CUAU Emergency Reception Clinic, which succeeded SMAU (Medical Emergency Reception Service). The CUAU on the impulse of the Head of State was enlarged and fully equipped in 2011. It is the first hospital facility in the country to have, in 2018, 642 beds, an emergency room service, two multipurpose intensive care rooms3 as well as ten surgical specialty services, twelve medical and medical specialty services, a pharmacy service, a hospital social service and six medico-technical services.
The statutes of the CNHU - C were approved by Decree No. 90 -0103 of June 11, 1990. On May 13, 1991, the CNHU - C acquired its status as an office of a social and scientific nature. In order to immortalize the memory of his Excellency President MAGA its initiator, he becomes the "Hubert Koutoukou MAGA National Hospital and University Center" (CNHU - HKM) on the occasion of the inauguration of the Scannography Unit in November 2001.