South Africa’s Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, has warned that Africa must urgently develop self-reliant funding mechanisms for its healthcare sector. This includes implementing taxes on products such as tobacco and alcohol. The continent faces a significant and “distressing decline” in foreign aid. His call highlights the critical need to strengthen African health financing and ensure the sustainability of healthcare systems.…
Tag: Africa
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Africa’s Cholera Crisis Deepens as 2025 Death Toll Rises
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has issued a stark warning. They declare cholera the continent’s leading public health threat as case numbers and fatalities continue to soar in 2025. Africa’s Cholera Crisis is becoming increasingly severe. The specialised healthcare agency of the African Union revealed in a recent briefing a concerning detail. The death toll…
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Mpox Global Emergency Downgraded by World Health Officials
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced that mpox is no longer a public health emergency of international concern, its highest level of alert. The decision comes after a significant and sustained fall in infection rates in key African nations. WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, confirmed the downgrade. The organisation’s Emergency Committee recommended it. The World Health Organisation (WHO)…
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Reversing Medical Tourism in Africa: The Abuja Initiative
Once a prime destination for global elites seeking top-tier medical care in the 1960s, Nigeria’s healthcare landscape has undergone a dramatic shift. Today, the nation faces a staggering financial outflow as its citizens, and other Africans, spend billions abroad for treatment. A landmark new facility in Abuja, however, signals a bold ambition for reversing medical tourism in Africa. This aims…
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Sustainable Health Financing in Zimbabwe’s Strategy
Zimbabwe has made a powerful appeal to African nations to prioritise the development of sustainable, domestic health financing mechanisms. This is in response to recent withdrawals of crucial donor funding across the continent. Speaking at the 75th World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa meeting in Zambia, Health Minister Douglas Mombeshora stressed that long-term resilience is key. It is…
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Botswana’s Drug Supply Disrupted by Diamond Crisis
Amid concerns over Botswana’s drug supply, the country’s President, Duma Boko, has declared a national public health emergency. He launched a 5 billion pula ($348 million) response plan as the country’s healthcare system buckles under the weight of a severe medical supply shortage. Indeed, Botswana’s drug supply is a central focus of this emergency plan. In a televised address to…
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Global Health Crisis and the Threat to NTD Programmes
Millions of life-saving medicines used to combat debilitating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are at risk of being wasted. Stockpiles are expiring in warehouses following the abrupt termination of a major US aid programme. Global health experts have sounded the alarm. They warn that this funding crisis could sabotage years of hard-won progress. Moreover, it could lead to a resurgence of…
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Malaria Exposure Linked to Reduced COVID-19 Risks
When the COVID-19 pandemic began its global spread in 2020, experts feared the worst for Africa. Its healthcare systems were already battling endemic diseases, including malaria exposure. However, a surprising trend emerged. Many African nations reported lower rates of severe COVID-19 than countries in Europe and North America. New research from the Malaria Consortium, led by Dr Jane Achan, provides…
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Regulatory Delays Threaten Africa’s Pharmaceutical Ambition
Critical delays in aligning Africa’s pharmaceutical regulations with World Health Organisation (WHO) standards are jeopardising the continent’s R1.25-trillion ($70bn) goal. They aim to become a self-sufficient pharmaceuticals manufacturing hub, according to a top industry executive. Stavros Nicolaou, a senior executive at Aspen Pharmacare and chair of Pharmaceuticals Made in South Africa (Pharmisa), warned that this regulatory bottleneck is preventing African…
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Malaria Breakthrough: First Treatment for Babies
In a breakthrough for global child health, Swiss authorities have approved Coartem Baby. Researchers have developed the first-ever medicine specifically designed to treat malaria in infants weighing less than five kilograms. The announcement by pharmaceutical giant Novartis marks a pivotal moment in the fight against a disease that disproportionately affects the youngest and most vulnerable. The new treatment addresses a…
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Substandard Cancer Drugs in Africa Are A Serious Concern
A groundbreaking investigation across four African nations has uncovered a disturbing truth: a significant portion of cancer medications are substandard or counterfeit. This leaves vulnerable patients with treatments that may be ineffective or even harmful. The study, published in The Lancet Global Health, sheds light on a critical and previously unmeasured gap in pharmaceutical regulation on the continent. It highlights…
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Biovac Secures Deal to Produce Pneumonia Vaccine
In a significant move for continental health security, Cape Town-based research group Biovac has announced a major technology transfer agreement with Indian pharmaceutical firm Biological E. The Biovac initiative will enable the company to produce and distribute a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV14) across Africa. This marks a vital step towards self-sufficiency in vaccine manufacturing. The partnership will accelerate the growth…