ENHANCING HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAINS IN IVORY COAST: INSIGHTS FROM A CHINA-AFRICA COLLABORATION

Abstract

The Ivory Coast, a thriving economy in West Africa, is witnessing a surge in healthcare demand, particularly for highquality medicine and medical devices. This increased demand is fueled by growing public health awareness and government efforts to enhance medical safety. However, the country's healthcare supply chain system faces significant challenges, as highlighted by recent health crises, including the COVID-19 and Ebola outbreaks. China has emerged as a key player in Ivory Coast's healthcare sector, financing and constructing numerous hospitals to promote sustainable development. With a focus on rural healthcare development, Ivory Coast aims to allocate more fiscal resources to improve medical services, presenting opportunities in the medical device market. Despite the country's increasing healthcare expenditures, medical care remains limited, and medical equipment is scarce, with many medical procedures relying on manual methods. This reliance on imports for medical equipment and supplies underscores the need for domestic medical device manufacturing and highlights the significant market potential. Keywords: Ivory Coast, healthcare supply chain, medical devices, healthcare demand, public health awareness,