As part of its national strategy to combat cancer, the Ivorian government is intensifying efforts to improve patient care. At the National Center for Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy Alassane Ouattara (CNRAO) — a facility specialized in cancer treatment — several anti-cancer drugs are subsidized and made available to patients free of charge.

These medications, which cost a fortune in private hospitals, are distributed at no cost thanks to government support, significantly easing the financial burden on families. This initiative reflects the State’s determination to support cancer patients and improve survival outcomes.

“Today, the standard treatment for advanced liver cancer involves two drugs, both available here for free. Likewise, for breast cancer, we provide medications that can cost up to 1.5 million FCFA per session in private hospitals — but are fully covered here,” explained Professor Judith Didi-Kouko Coulibaly, Director of the CNRAO.

Between January 2018 and June 2024, the center recorded over 63,000 consultations, 30,000 chemotherapy sessions, 3,200 radiotherapy treatments, and 160,000 biological analyses.

This subsidy policy offers real hope — beyond medical infrastructure, it embodies a deep social commitment to making healthcare more equitable for all.