Côte d'Ivoire boosts cancer care after 20,000 annual cases
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The government of Côte d'Ivoire is expanding cancer treatment after diagnosing approximately 20,000 new cases annually, including 5,000 breast cancer cases.
Officials discussed the increased healthcare response during a Council of Ministers meeting on October 14, 2026. The country is strengthening its resources through the National Centre of Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy Alassane Ouattara and the Abidjan Institute of Nuclear Medicine, both located at the Cocody University Hospital Centre.
Four university hospital centres in Abidjan now have modern equipment for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. A new radiotherapy and oncology centre in Grand-Bassam is scheduled to open in December 2026. The government has also negotiated agreements with pharmaceutical companies to make expensive treatments, costing between 3 and 4 million FCFA, nearly free.
Additionally, the Mother-Child Hospital in Bingerville offers free pediatric oncology care for 90% of its patients, and regional health centres and general hospitals throughout the country now have mammography equipment. Côte d'Ivoire purchased a mobile mammography unit in 2025 to reach remote populations, and offers reduced-price screenings during “Pink October”. Authorities report that five-year survival rates have doubled, shifting perceptions of cancer from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition.
