Health sector: European Center for Nuclear Medicine Announced in Abidjan
On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, First Lady Dominique Ouattara received in audience Alexandre Roquette, Director General of the European Institute of Oncology, accompanied by Hachim Diop, Director General of the Bingerville Mother-Child Hospital.
At the heart of the discussions was the announcement of a major project in the health sector: the upcoming launch of the European Center for Nuclear Medicine in Abidjan. This major initiative marks a significant step forward in the modernization of the Ivorian healthcare system.
In outlining the details of this project, Mr. Alexandre Roquette stated: “ The goal was to share some good news with her: the launch of the European Center for Nuclear Medicine in Abidjan, which is the first center equipped with a cyclotron (Editor’s note: a cyclotron is a type of circular particle accelerator that uses magnetic and electric fields to propel charged particles—such as protons and ions—to very high speeds ) and a PET scanner (Editor’s note: A PET scan, or positron emission tomography, is a nuclear medicine examination that detects metabolic abnormalities—primarily for the diagnosis and monitoring of cancers—by injecting a radioactive tracer that binds to active cells. It helps identify tumors, inflammation, or neurological disorders.) in West Africa. “This center will represent a fundamental breakthrough in the treatment of cancer and other diseases in Côte d’Ivoire, as our patients will no longer be forced to travel to Europe or other countries for treatment.”
According to him, this infrastructure will not only improve early diagnosis of diseases, particularly cancers, but also ensure high-quality medical care across the country.
Deeply committed to public health issues, the First Lady welcomed this announcement with great interest. Sensitive to initiatives aimed at improving access to healthcare for the population, she praised this development, which will contribute to the long-term strengthening of medical infrastructure in Côte d’Ivoire.
In addition, the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss strengthening the partnership between the European Institute of Oncology and the Children of Africa Foundation. In this context, according to Mr. Alexandre Roquette, plans are in place to cover the costs of PET scans for the Foundation’s patients, particularly the most vulnerable among them.
With the establishment of this nuclear medicine center, Côte d’Ivoire is taking a significant step forward in the fight against cancer and the improvement of care for complex conditions, offering new prospects for the national healthcare system.