Why this is important to Wisconsin businesses: Wisconsin’s expertise in broad areas of health care could offer promising export prospects.
The government of Ivory Coast is stepping up efforts to expand accessibility to health care for its 31 million residents.
Health authorities opened mobile enrollment centers in June 2024 to provide more options for people to sign up for the country’s universal health coverage program, known as CMU. Launched in 2019, CMU is intended to cover about 70% of citizens’ health care costs for a charge comparable to about $1.65 a month. However, only 13 million people, or 40% of the population, has enrolled, according to the Associated Press (AP). Health Minister Pierre Dimba told AP his goal is to have 20 million residents in the program by the end of the year.
The government is also adding hospitals and clinics for residents to use under the universal health program. The 2025 operating budget for the Ministry of Health is $1.2 billion, up nearly 20% from the previous year. There are now 139 public hospitals available, compared to 102 in 2021, the number of public health care clinics is currently at 2,760, an increase of nearly 11% over the 2021 level. The government has partnered with international organizations such as the World Bank and the African Development Bank to enhance health care delivery systems.
The private health care sector is smaller but it also plays an important role, especially in urban centers like Abidjan. the Polyclinique Internationale Sainte Anne-Marie and the Hospital Mère-Enfant Dominique Ouattara are among the prominent private facilities, catering mainly to wealthier individuals and expatriates.
Ivory Coast depends on imports for most of its medical equipment and pharmaceutical products, opening the door for Wisconsin companies in the health care sector to pursue potential opportunities.
