Burkina Faso: Access to Essential Medicines, a public health policy at the service of the people
Under the leadership of Captain Ibrahim TRAORÉ, President of Burkina Faso and Head of State, the Burkinabe pharmaceutical industry sector is undergoing a profound transformation. The reforms undertaken, driven by a sovereigntist and social vision, are already beginning to produce concrete effects on the daily lives of the population, particularly in terms of access to essential medicines.
It all started in 2024 with the creation of Faso Pharma, a structure in charge of managing the Kokologo Pharmaceutical Technopole. This large-scale project, whose construction is underway at an estimated cost of 70 billion CFA francs, embodies the government’s ambition to provide Burkina Faso with a national pharmaceutical industry capable of meeting the essential needs of the population.
At the same time, the State acquired 70% of the shares in Propharm, the country’s leading generic drug factory. This strategic investment demonstrates the authorities’ desire to regain control over a sector vital to public health and to reduce dependence on expensive imports.
The Central Purchasing Office for Generic Essential Medicines and Medical Consumables (CAMEG), which has become a state-owned company since 2024, plays a central role in this dynamic. Its mission is clear: to guarantee a regular supply of essential medicines and medical consumables at affordable prices for the entire population.
This structural reform is part of an ambitious public policy, desired by the Head of State Ibrahim TRAORÉ and implemented by the People’s Government, led by Prime Minister Rimtalba Jean Emmanuel OUÉDRAOGO.
The results of this policy were not long in coming. According to data from the Ministry of Health, the successive reductions in the prices of generic essential medicines, which took place in May 2025 and then in March 2026, have allowed the population to save more than 8 billion CFA francs.
Behind this impressive figure are hundreds of thousands of families who have been able to reduce their health expenses and redirect these resources to other vital needs: food, education, housing. This is the whole point of this policy: to qualitatively transform the daily lives of citizens and strengthen national solidarity.
This initiative is part of a global dynamic to strengthen national solidarity, at this pivotal period in the life of the Burkinabe nation. It reflects a conception of the State as protector and guarantor of access to essential services for all, regardless of social condition or place of residence.
By facilitating access to essential medicines at affordable prices, the People’s Government is demonstrating that national sovereignty is also built through the ability to take care of its population. This public health policy, which is within the reach of all populations, is a concrete illustration of President Ibrahim Traoré’s vision for a Burkina Faso that is standing, sovereign and united, where every citizen can live in dignity.
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