The Ivorian government detailed on Monday, October 12, 2026, the conditions for the free provision of certain anticancer drugs in public facilities. The measure concerns Ivorian patients for whom these treatments are medically indicated and does not imply that all cancer care is free of charge.
The products covered by the partnership between the State and the Roche laboratory include targeted therapies and immunotherapy treatments. According to the government, their cost in the private sector can range from 1.5 million to 4.2 million CFA francs per infusion, administered every fourteen or twenty-one days for at least one year depending on the pathology.
The partnership was signed in 2014 and then gradually expanded. Since 2019, it has covered the anticancer drugs from the laboratory included in the scheme. Roche grants an average discount of 55 percent on its prices, and the State covers the remaining amount, according to official information.
Access depends on a prescription and coverage within the public sector. This clarification is essential for patients, as medications not included in the agreement, tests, and other components of the therapeutic pathway may be subject to different funding arrangements.
At the Alassane Ouattara National Center for Medical Oncology and Radiotherapy, patients who are unable to immediately pay for certain services can receive treatment before making payment. Deferred or installment payments can be arranged with the assistance of the facility’s social services.
The CNRAO had welcomed 15,936 patients since its opening as of December 31, 2025, according to the government. The center combines chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and supportive care, including psychology, nutrition, physiotherapy, and social support.
Health authorities emphasize that early screening remains crucial for survival chances. They report a five-year survival rate of 85 percent for breast cancer detected early and 93 percent for prostate cancer diagnosed at an early stage.
