African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah, has called on African governments to significantly increase domestic investment in healthcare. She warned that the continent cannot continue to rely heavily on external donors to build resilient health systems. This urgent appeal underscores a critical shift towards self-sufficiency in health financing across Africa.
Ambassador Twum-Amoah made her remarks on July 20 during a High-Level Interactive Policy Dialogue in Accra. The event, co-organised by the African Renaissance Trust and the Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete Foundation, focused on "Advancing Africa's Health Agenda through Domestic Financing, Accountability and Strategic Innovations." The dialogue brought together key stakeholders, including ministers, policymakers, and global health experts, to explore practical solutions for sustainable health financing.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to strengthen health systems by 2030, a goal set ahead of the African Union Extraordinary Summit on Ending AIDS. Ghana, like many African nations, faces persistent financing gaps in its health sector, often relying on donor support for critical programmes. Increased domestic funding could reduce this dependency, freeing up resources for other national development priorities and enhancing the country's fiscal autonomy.
Ambassador Twum-Amoah described the current moment as a defining one for Africa's pursuit of universal health coverage and stronger health systems. She stated, "Africa stands at a defining moment in its pursuit of universal health coverage, health security and sustainable development." While acknowledging progress in health outcomes, she pointed to persistent financing gaps, emerging public health threats, and demographic pressures as reasons for renewed political commitment.
She stressed that investment in healthcare should not be viewed as a social expense. Instead, it is a strategic investment in economic growth, national security, and resilience. "Expenditure on health is not merely a social cost. It is a strategic investment in human capital, economic growth, productivity, national security as well as resilience," she explained.
The AU Commissioner acknowledged the importance of international partnerships. However, she maintained that African countries must take greater responsibility for financing their own health systems. She stated, "External partnerships remain important and deeply valued. However, no health system can be truly sustainable if it depends predominantly on external assistance. Africa's health security cannot be outsourced."
She urged member states to increase health allocations in national budgets. She also called for stronger domestic resource mobilisation and improved public financial management. Adopting innovative financing mechanisms is crucial for providing predictable and sustainable funding for essential health services. This includes exploring new ways to generate revenue internally for health.
The Commissioner also underscored the need for stronger accountability in managing health resources. She warned, "Financing without accountability risks inefficiency. Accountability without reliable data becomes difficult to enforce, and data without decisive action cannot improve lives." Governments must strengthen transparent systems for planning, budgeting, procurement, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation. This ensures public spending translates into measurable health outcomes.
Ambassador Twum-Amoah further urged African countries to invest in digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and integrated data systems. She also advocated for home-grown research to strengthen healthcare delivery. She concluded with a call for governments to translate political commitments into concrete action, stating, "The time for action is now. We've done enough talking; we have to put our words into action."
The implications of this call are significant for Ghana and other African nations. Increased domestic funding could lead to more robust health infrastructure, better access to essential medicines, and improved health outcomes for citizens. It could also reduce the vulnerability of health systems to external shocks and donor priorities. Decision-makers will need to consider innovative tax mechanisms and reallocate existing budgets to meet these ambitious targets. The focus on accountability will also demand greater transparency in how health funds are managed and spent.