President Goïta initiates major healthcare expansion with 15 new hospitals
In a significant step for the nation, General Assimi Goïta, the President of the Transition, has officially inaugurated the Presidential Emergency Hospital Project. The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the Korofina Reference Health Centre in Bamako’s Commune I, signaling the start of a transformative journey for the medical infrastructure in Mali.
Colonel-Major Assa Badiallo Touré, the Minister of Health and Social Development, emphasized that this initiative follows the recommendations of the national health summit held in December 2024. This forum highlighted the urgent requirement for better healthcare accessibility and enhanced medical service quality across the entire Mali territory.
A complete overhaul of the national hospital network
The Minister explained that the program aims for a thorough modernization and restructuring of the current hospital system. The plan includes the construction of 15 new healthcare facilities and the elevation of existing Reference Health Centres (CSREF) in Bamako to the status of district hospitals. Funded entirely by the national budget, the construction phase is expected to last 12 months in Bamako and 24 months in regional areas.
This presidential initiative is structured around three primary pillars:
- Upgrading the CSREF units in the seven districts of Bamako into full-scale district hospitals.
- Establishing new district hospitals in the towns of Bla and Kangaba.
- Developing state-of-the-art regional hospitals in San, Koutiala, Bougouni, Dioïla, Nioro, Bandiagara, and Koulikoro.
These sites will be outfitted with cutting-edge medical technology and will feature expanded patient capacities. Specialized services will also be introduced, including hemodialysis units specifically for the hospitals in Bamako‘s 1st and 6th districts.
Strategic goals and project oversight
Following the ceremony, the President of the Transition reiterated that health is a fundamental cornerstone of national progress. He urged the Minister of Health to guarantee that public services remain uninterrupted during the build phase and that contractors strictly adhere to the delivery timelines. The President also highlighted the human-centric focus of the project: bringing high-quality care closer to the people of Mali, minimizing the need for medical evacuations, and relieving the pressure on current facilities.
