Nairobi, 11 October 2016- Chapters of the Africa Health Care Federations from the five AU regions on Friday met to launch the Africa Healthcare Federation. This overarching organisation will represent the private sector in collaboration with governments and development partners.

The federation is also set to lead advocacy efforts for the strengthening of health systems. It will further spearhead the development of quality and uniform standards of health care delivery across the continent. This will play a critical role towards the bold targets set in Agenda 2063 for healthy and well-nourished citizens.

 “The potential of the private sector as a key partner in delivering health is enormous and we must work together with governments to create an enabling environment and foster relationships that promote mutually beneficial private public partnerships”, said Dr. Mustapha Sidiki Kaloko, the Commissioner for Social Affairs at the African Union Commission.

The level of investment in health in Africa is best expressed by considering that the regions of South Asia and Africa South of the Sahara together account for over 50% of the global disease burden – and 37% of the world’s population – but only 2% of global health spending.

African countries generate more than $520 billion annually through domestic resource mobilisation. This represents more than 8.5 times the amount the continent receives in Official Development Assistance. However most African governments have not been able to meet their 2001 Abuja commitment to spend 15% or more of their domestic budgets on health programmes due to many competing priorities. Africa’s health systems have thus experienced decades of under investment.

In 2014, African countries spent about US$126 billion of domestic funding for health. An additional US$65 to US$115 billion in domestic funding can be mobilised annually over the next ten years if countries step up efforts. The African leadership has thus ensured that domestic financing remains the primary source of funding for health and African countries spend on average 20 times more from their own resources than they receive from Official Development Assistance.

The Africa Health Business Symposium highlighted many private partnerships that have contributed to strengthen various pillars of health systems in Africa. These partnerships have among others successfully contributed to building health infrastructure, supply chain management and health worker training.

The policy frameworks exist to support the growth and improvement of the health sector in Africa. The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa seeks to achieve both public health and business objectives by creating a conducive environment to promote growth. The development of the pharmaceutical industry will stimulate both economic development and improve public health thereby playing its role in the social economic transformation and inclusive growth aspirations in Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals. Already the value of Africa’s pharmaceutical industry rose to $20.8 billion in 2013, a colossal leap from just $4.7 billion a decade earlier. It is predicted the market will be worth $45 billion by 2020. 

The comprehensive Africa health architecture that include the Africa Health Strategy (2015-2016) and its sub-strategies seek to achieve universal health coverage through building an effective, African-driven response to reduce the burden of disease. This will be achieved through strengthened health systems, scaled-up health interventions, inter-sectoral action and empowered communities.

The launch of the federation was preceded by the Africa Health Business Symposium to facilitate intra-regional discussion that can further strengthen the roles played by both the private, public and development sectors. The dialogue focused on healthcare financing strategies, digital technologies, fostering investments through private public partnerships, human resources for health, supply chain management and policy and regulations. During the meeting, the private sector welcomed the candidature of Dr. Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, who is the African Union candidate for the WHO Director-General position.

For further information contact:

Wynne Musabayana | Head of Communication | African Union Commission | Tel: (251) 11 551 77 00 | Fax: (251) 11 551 2558 | E-mail: MusabayanaW@africa-union.org | Web: www.au.int|Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

Tawanda Chisango| | AWA Programme Advocacy and Partnerships Expert | African Union Commission |Tel: +263 775 859 316| E-mail: chisangot@africa-union.org | www.au.int   | Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

About the African Union

The African Union spearheads Africa’s development and integration in close collaboration with African Union Member States, the Regional Economic Communities and African citizens.  AU Vision: to accelerate progress towards an integrated, prosperous and inclusive Africa, at peace with itself, playing a dynamic role in the continental and global arena, effectively driven by an accountable, efficient and responsive Commission.