African body, experts urge leaders to step up countries’ health financing By Timothy Olanrewaju
Health experts and pro-African health sovereignty body, have urged political leaders in the continent to show more commitment to health financing by stepping up budgetary allocation for medical researches and innovations in their countries.
Chairman of Galien Africa, an organisation for the promotion of innovations in healthcare in the continent, Prof Awa Marie Seck and Dr John Nkengasong, a renowned Cameroonian-American virologist and public health expert, made the call during a virtual media dialogue with over 50 journalists across African countries.
“Our political leaders must understand that healthcare financing is not mere budgetary allocation but investment in well-being of their countries and our people. There is the need to bring Africa where it ought to be,” Prof Awa Seck declared.
She said currently the large proportion of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and needs are brought to the continent from other continents.
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She urged African leaders to be deliberate in commitment to research’es and innovations in medicine which Galien Africa seeks to achieve through its annual forum and awards for excellent scientific works in jealth, ecosystem and pharmacology.
Dr John John Nkengasong on his part, expressed concern that only few countries in Africa have achieved the threshold of 15 percent national budget allocation to health sector contained in the 2001 Abuja Declaration signed by African Union (AU) member states.
He said the GDP most African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Gabon, have tripled since 2001 but commitment to health sector financing is yet to increase. “If we have the political will from our leaders, healthcare in Africa will be improved,” he said.
He explained that Galien Africa Forum focuses on sovereignty of health to make African nation develop own pharmaceuticals, medical devices and vaccines to respond to the continent health concerns rather than replying on supplies from external places.
He said the Galien Prix which usually round up the annual event was instituted to reward excellence innovation in pharmaceuticals, science and medicine generally.
The media dialogue was organised by the African Journalists Forum for the Promotion of Health and Environment (REMAPSEN), a network of journalists reporting public health concerns, emergencies and environmental issues in the continent.
