Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, stressed on Tuesday that the future of health in Africa must be shaped from within the continent itself.
He welcomed the support of international partners but insisted that any success must be driven by African priorities and reflect the real needs of its people to ensure ownership and sustainable development.
His remarks were made during a speech at the closing session of the Regional Steering Committee (RESCO), where he expressed pride in Egypt’s role as host of the forum and renewed the country’s full commitment to supporting its recommendations and turning them into real progress that benefits public health across the continent.
Minister Abdel Ghaffar noted that the meetings saw valuable discussions and the exchange of ideas on health investment in Africa, resulting in a deeper understanding of regional needs and defining clear steps for the way forward.
He explained that agreement was reached on three main strategic priorities forming the pillars of Africa’s future health roadmap.
The first priority is to boost domestic health financing, as achieving universal health coverage requires placing health at the core of national policies. This includes mobilizing local resources, developing fair health insurance systems, and creating funding tools that guarantee justice and sustainability.
The second priority focuses on encouraging local manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies within Africa. This step is seen as essential to improving access to healthcare, supporting local economies, and building self-sufficiency to handle health emergencies.
The third priority is the digital transformation of the health sector through investment in digital infrastructure, such as electronic records, surveillance platforms, and integrated systems.
This is key to enhancing service quality and strengthening early warning mechanisms. Abdel Ghaffar added that Egypt has made significant progress in this field and fully supports the development of regional digital health platforms.
In closing, the minister called for stronger regional coordination through technical and steering committees, stressing their importance in supporting political and technical leadership.
He urged for more institutional backing to maximise their effectiveness, saying: “Let us work together towards a stronger, healthier, and more united Africa.”
