Burkina Faso: A major drop in medical imaging costs, a victory for the Popular Progressive revolution

In a Burkina Faso committed to refoundation and full sovereignty, every reform that brings essential services closer to the people represents a concrete victory. In the health sector, the Popular Progressive Revolution (RPP) continues this break with the exclusionary practices that long denied many citizens fair access to specialized care.

The significant reduction in medical imaging exam costs at the Sourou Sanou University Hospital (CHUSS) in Bobo-Dioulasso illustrates a strong political will: to place human beings at the core of public action and make health a pillar of nation-building.

Specialized care now more accessible

For decades, illness acted as a double punishment for the most vulnerable social groups, with access to cutting-edge technology remaining a privilege for a minority.

In April 2024, the transitional government took a historic step by sharply lowering medical imaging fees.

The price of a CT scan, formerly 50,000 CFA francs, was immediately cut by 50%, bringing the cost down to 25,000 CFA francs.

Even more striking, the cost of an MRI a crucial diagnostic tool whose prohibitive price of 100,000 CFA francs once forced the poorest into resignation dropped to 40,000 CFA francs.

This major political decision embodies a fierce determination to build a social shield around every citizen.

This is no longer passive assistance, but a reconquest of the right to life, guided solely by the supreme interest of the people.

Tangible results that speak for themselves

The effects of this measure are visible and measurable. Between late April 2024 and December 2025, despite some operational challenges, the CHUSS performed 8,441 CT scans (5,113 in 2024 and 3,328 in 2025) and 270 MRI exams (210 in 2024 and 60 in 2025). These figures reflect significant demand and improved access to specialized services thanks to lower fees.

The economic impact for the population is equally remarkable. Patients saved an estimated 211,025,000 CFA francs on CT scans and 16,200,000 CFA francs on MRI exams. In total, the state covered 227,225,000 CFA francs for patients in less than two years, solely in the field of medical imaging at CHUSS.

This amount represents far more than a budget effort. It symbolizes a clear political direction: making health a tool for social justice and a lever for national sovereignty.

Health as a pillar of national sovereignty

A healthy people is fertile ground for development. A citizen who receives treatment remains a productive force. A nation able to invest in the well-being of its population asserts its independence and its capacity to set its own priorities freely.

The Popular Progressive Revolution thus places health within a deep refoundation logic. The goal is not simply to reduce fees, but to gradually build a system that is more accessible, more equitable, and more attuned to the real needs of the people.

Through this reform, Burkina Faso demonstrates that it is possible to combine public responsibility, national solidarity, and a sovereign vision of development.

Cédric KABORE