Mali: An ambitious plan to overhaul the healthcare system

Dr. Traoré Fatoumata Nafo recently presented the report of the General States of Health to the Minister of Health and Social Development, Dr. Colonel Assa Badiallo Touré. This document, the result of two months of consultations, proposes 973 recommendations and 68 priority strategic areas to rebuild the Malian healthcare system, marking a key step towards a sustainable transformation of the sector.

The Malian healthcare system faces significant shortcomings. With only 6 healthcare professionals for every 10,000 inhabitants, far below the 23 to 33 recommended by the WHO, the country suffers from a severe shortage of medical staff. This situation is exacerbated by inadequate training and an uneven distribution of human resources. Sector financing is also problematic, with healthcare spending accounting for only 6.9% of GDP in 2014, well below actual needs. Access to basic services remains limited, with only 36% of households having adequate sanitation facilities.

The report proposes ambitious measures to address these deficiencies. Among the priorities are the integration of traditional medicine, the promotion of the private healthcare sector, and multisectoral approaches to improve the health of young people, both in schools and prisons. It also recommends a significant increase in the number of healthcare professionals, improvements in their training, and better distribution across the country. Sector financing needs to be strengthened, particularly through increased state investment and public-private partnerships.

Projects such as the “Project for Accelerating towards Universal Health Coverage” (PACSU) have already made notable progress. Thanks to this program, service quality increased from 37% to 81%, and the availability of essential medicines reached 87%. These advances were made possible by the recruitment of 337 healthcare professionals and the training of 80 senior officials in international standards.

Additionally, 697 new buildings were constructed, and 265 were renovated.

Mali has also unveiled a national digital health strategic plan for 2024-2028, with a budget of 35 million dollars. This plan aims to integrate digital technologies to improve access to and the quality of healthcare services. The success of these reforms will depend on the commitment of all sector actors. By implementing these recommendations, Mali has a unique opportunity to transform its healthcare system and offer a better future to its population.