Experts urge Africa to move from policy to action to achieve health sovereignty

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African health experts have called for urgent, coordinated action to translate long-standing policy commitments into tangible gains in access to medicines and stronger health systems.

They have warned that discussions without implementation risk leaving countries exposed as donor funding continues to decline.

The call was made during a civil society webinar on Africa’s leadership for health sovereignty, held Thursday (February 5) ahead of the African Union (AU) Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa next week.

The virtual meeting brought together regional institutions, civil society organisations (CSOs) and health policy experts to examine how Africa can close critical financing gaps and strengthen its capacity to procure and regulate essential medicines.

Speaking during the webinar, Dr Julius Simon Otim, Senior Health Officer for Medicines and Food Safety at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, emphasised the importance of pooled procurement as a practical pathway to affordability and access.

He noted that when countries buy medicines together, they gain stronger bargaining power, benefit from economies of scale and are able to secure better prices than when acting individually.

According to Dr Otim, pooled procurement also strengthens regional cooperation and allows countries to share technical expertise, ultimately improving access to essential medicines across borders

However, Dr Otim cautioned that while the benefits of pooled procurement are well understood, progress has been slowed by weak coordination and a lack of trust among countries.

He stressed that political cooperation is essential if states are to pool resources effectively, arguing that years of discussion must now give way to concrete action supported by harmonised systems and stronger institutional collaboration.

Health Sovereignty

The webinar also highlighted the broader concept of health sovereignty, with speakers underscoring that no single institution or policy lever can deliver it alone.

Nomathamsanqa Bhebhe, Programme Officer at the Programme for Investment and Financing in Africa’s Health Sector (PIFAH), said achieving health sovereignty requires coordinated action across institutions, with each fully leveraging its mandate and comparative advantage.

She highlighted the need to crowd in private capital and blend it with public resources as a key strategy for strengthening Africa’s health systems amid shrinking external aid.

Bhebhe further noted the central role of the African Medicines Agency (AMA) in improving regulatory oversight and safeguarding the quality of medicines across the continent.

She argued that effective continental regulation is a cornerstone of resilient health systems and a necessary complement to financing and procurement reforms.

On her part, Rosemary Mburu, Executive Director, WACI Health, challenged the traditional view of independence, noting that health sovereignty isn't about isolationism.

“Instead, it’s about shifting the power dynamic toward stronger, respectful, and mutually reinforcing partnerships. To achieve this, the focus must shift inward. Domestic resource mobilisation is no longer optional. Africa has the resources; the missing ingredients are better prioritisation and transparent governance,” she said.

Weak Implementation Undermining Progress

From a civil society perspective, Oluwakemi Gbadamosi, Deputy Executive Director of AHF Global Public Health, stressed that Africa’s challenge is no longer a lack of policy frameworks.



She observed that existing continental and national policies already speak clearly to health sovereignty goals, but weak implementation continues to undermine progress. Without enforcement, she warned, commitments risk remaining promises on paper

Gbadamosi also highlighted the risks facing local pharmaceutical manufacturing, cautioning that without binding markets for locally produced medical products, regional manufacturers will struggle to survive.

She added that continental policies only deliver impact when they are implemented at the national level, backed by strong regulators and adequate resources.

In this context, she said the African Medicines Agency can only succeed if it is fully ratified, properly resourced and supported by robust national regulatory authorities.

Official Development Assistance to Africa has contracted significantly in recent years, even as disease outbreaks across the continent have increased.

Over the past 4 years, Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Africa contracted by 70 percent, the largest decline in recent history.

Simultaneously, the continent has seen a 41 percent surge in disease outbreaks. While the threats are multiplying, the chequebook is closing.

Currently, total health spending across many African nations averages just $17 per person per year. The minimum required for essential services is $60. We cannot beg our way out of a $43 per person deficit,” said Dr Penninah Iutung, the AHF Executive Vice President.

She said that “With donor priorities shifting and assistance declining, Africa must pivot from reliance to sovereignty. This isn't just about health; it’s about continental security.”

The webinar was convened by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Africa, in collaboration with Africa REACH, WACI Health and the Resilience Action Network Africa (RANA).

It formed part of a broader civil society effort to influence discussions at the AU Heads of State Summit by presenting a CSO-driven call to action on health financing and sovereignty.