African health leaders adopt decade-long strategies in Addis Ababa

During the 76th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa in Addis Ababa, African ministers and international organizations outlined long-term strategies to stabilize the continent's healthcare systems for the 2026–2035 period.

A primary focus is the African Health Workforce Agenda 2026–2035, which aims to train and retain 3 million additional healthcare workers by 2035. Currently, the African region possesses only about 46% of the necessary workforce, facing a potential shortage of over 6 million professionals if current trends continue.

Addressing financial instability is another critical pillar. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is urging states to view health spending as a driver of economic productivity rather than a social burden. Currently, direct out-of-pocket payments by households account for an average of 35% of health expenditures in the region, significantly higher than the 20% international target. This financial strain pushes an estimated 150 million people into poverty annually.

With external health aid declining by nearly 30% and rising debt servicing costs consuming significant portions of public budgets, the ECA recommends integrating health ministries with finance and planning departments to create robust investment models and improve digital budget tracking.