Kenya has called on African countries to move from promises to actual investments that can help the continent build stronger and more independent health systems.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale made the call during the plenary session of the 76th World Health Organization Regional Committee for Africa, where member states discussed a new strategy aimed at improving healthcare across the continent.
The strategy, dubbed “A New Era of Health for Africa: United Action for Vision 2035,” was presented by WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi.
Duale said Africa’s push for health self-reliance should focus on three key areas: domestic financing, local production of medicines and medical supplies, and digital health.
He said African countries could not continue depending heavily on foreign funding to run their health systems.
Kenya pushes domestic health financing
Duale pointed to Kenya’s Taifa Care programme under the Social Health Authority (SHA), saying more than 32 million people have so far been enrolled.
He said strengthening domestic financing would allow countries to provide healthcare without being overly affected whenever external funding reduces or stops.
The CS also called on the WHO Regional Office for Africa to help countries prepare stronger health investment plans and bring together Health and Finance ministers to discuss ways of increasing funding for the sector.
“Health self-reliance” has become an increasingly important issue for African countries as governments look for ways to keep essential health programmes running without depending entirely on donors.
Push for local production
Duale also called for greater investment in the production of medicines and other health products within Africa.
He highlighted Kenya’s ratification of the treaty establishing the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and encouraged other countries that have not yet done so to complete the process.
According to Duale, having a common regulatory system, joint approvals and pooled procurement could give African manufacturers a more reliable market for their products.
“Health product sovereignty will ultimately be built through procurement and sustained demand, not declarations alone,” he said.
He argued that African countries need to create enough demand for locally manufactured health products if the continent is to reduce its dependence on imports.
Digital health
Kenya also used the meeting to highlight its progress in digital health.
Duale said the country was developing an integrated national system linking health facilities, claims management and national health registries.
He also pointed to the role of more than 107,000 Community Health Promoters, who are using digital systems to support the delivery of healthcare at community level.
Kenya further backed the creation of a regional health data hub that would allow African countries to share information using common standards while maintaining control over their own health data.
Duale said stronger data systems would help countries make better decisions while protecting the continent’s control over its health information.
Kenya said it remains ready to work with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and other member states in implementing the new strategy.
The Kenyan delegation included Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union Galma Boru, Director-General for Health Dr Patrick Amoth, Digital Health Agency CEO Anthony Lenaiyara and Director of Health Sector Coordination and Intergovernmental Relations Dr Omar Albush.