Malians demand universal healthcare access and prioritize health in governance
The Republic of Mali has made notable strides in improving health outcomes in recent years, including reductions in infant mortality, under-five deaths, maternal mortality, and gains in life expectancy, according to the World Health Organization (2025) and UNICEF (2025). In 2018, the country launched a bold universal health coverage initiative, aiming to ensure all citizens can access essential health services without financial hardship.
Despite these efforts, access to quality healthcare remains a pressing challenge. Persistent issues such as a critical shortage of trained medical staff, inadequate funding, and infrastructure gaps—compounded by years of political instability—continue to hinder progress. Rural communities are disproportionately affected, with over half of the nation’s doctors concentrated in the capital, Bamako, leaving vast regions underserved (Sangare et al., 2021).
The scale of the challenge is reflected in Mali’s Universal Health Coverage Service Coverage Index score of 41 out of 100, as reported by the World Health Organization (2024). This places the country below both the continental average (44) and the global benchmark (68).
Citizens prioritize health as the top government responsibility
Findings from a special health services module in the Afrobarometer Round 10 survey reveal that health is the most pressing issue Malians want their government to address. Only about one in seven adults currently has health insurance, and widespread concerns persist over the affordability and availability of medical care. An overwhelming majority believe the government must guarantee universal access to quality healthcare, even if it requires higher taxes.
Public healthcare experiences: mixed feedback
Among those who accessed public clinics or hospitals in the year before the survey, experiences were varied. While many reported receiving necessary treatments, others highlighted significant barriers, including high costs for care or medications, excessive wait times, and frequent shortages of essential drugs and medical supplies. Nearly half of respondents indicated that a family member had gone without needed care in the previous year due to these obstacles.
Despite these challenges, public confidence in healthcare improvements remains relatively strong. Two-thirds of citizens approve of the government’s performance in enhancing basic health services and express trust in the Ministry of Health.
