Ouagadougou: In an effort to reduce healthcare costs for Burkinabe people, the government announced yesterday, Monday, that starting May 26, 2025, the prices of several medicines and vaccines will drop significantly across the country.

According to Burkina Information Agency, there will be up to 46% off tablets, 55% off injectable forms, between 1% and 20% off syrups, and up to 25% off other pharmaceutical forms, as stated by Health Minister Robert Kargougou. Captopril 25 mg will see a price reduction from 140 FCFA to 75 FCFA, resulting in a saving of 1,200 FCFA over three months of treatment. Injectable insulin will now be available at 2,500 FCFA instead of 2,750 FCFA, providing a saving of 22,500 FCFA over the same period. Carbocysteine syrup will decrease from 700 FCFA to 625 FCFA, and examination gloves will go from 75 FCFA to 40 FCFA.

The antivenom serum will have a drastic price reduction from 21,833 FCFA to 2,000 FCFA, marking a reduction of 90.84%. The yellow fever vaccine will see a 15% drop, the ACYW-135 meningococcal vaccine by 16.62%, and the rabies vaccine by 72.14%.

This announcement coincides with efforts by the Central Purchasing Agency for Essential Generic Medicines (CAMEG), which became a state-owned company in March 2024, to improve the availability of pharmaceutical products. CAMEG has increased the availability rate of tracer products from 45% to 75% in April 2025, with a target of 90% by June.

Among other measures introduced by the minister is a reduction in commercial margins. District distribution depots will see their margins drop from 7.5% to 6%, while those applied in public health facilities will fall from 30% to 25%.