African Ministers Call for Bold Reform of the Global Health System

As Africa prepares for the upcoming Africa Regional Dialogue on Global Health Reform in Kigali, Rwanda (3–5 November 2025), momentum is building across the continent for a bold, Africa-led reform of the global health system.

The call follows a series of regional consultations convened by Amref Health Africa with support from the Wellcome Trust, where Ministers of Health and leaders from West, East, Central, Southern, and North Africa delivered a unified message: the current Global Health Architecture (GHA) must be decolonised by shifting power, ownership, and decision-making to African institutions and communities.

The dialogue series signals a critical turning point for the continent – prioritising self-determination, equity, and sovereignty as anchors for a future global health system that truly serves Africa’s needs.

“When rethinking the Global Health Architecture, we should not think about it with borders in place. Our strength lies in regional collaboration – in pooling our capacities, sharing resources, and building a resilient health ecosystem that transcends boundaries,” – Dr Esperance Luvindao, minister of Health and Social Services, Namibia.

Headline Findings: Key Pillars for Africa-Led Reform

Across all regions, participants converged on three critical priorities for reimagining the GHA:

• Shift from Fragmentation to Coherence: Leaders unanimously called for a radical move away from the fragmented, top-down, donor-driven model. The consensus demands replacing “disarray” with an Africa-coordinated architecture that channels financing through robust national systems.
• Prioritising Sovereign Investment: The dialogues highlighted the urgent need to redefine health funding from aid to long-term patient capital. With global aid projected to decline, African leaders must prioritise domestic resource mobilisation and nurture local innovation ecosystems to unlock African-led solutions.
• Local Security through Local Manufacturing: A decisive pathway explored was accelerating local manufacturing – for vaccines and all essential health products. This move transforms supply chains into engines of self-reliance, supported by proposals like launching Regional Regulatory and Trade “Sandboxes” to pilot harmonised regulations.

Next Steps: Defining Africa’s Blueprint in Kigali

The insights gathered from the virtual consultations will directly inform discussions at the Africa Regional Dialogue in Kigali, where policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, and private sector representatives will co-create Africa’s blueprint for reform.

Outcomes from Kigali will then feed into the global synthesis convening in 2026, ensuring that Africa’s priorities – grounded in justice, sovereignty, and shared prosperity – shape the future of global health.

Join the Movement 

From East to West, North to South – Africa is speaking with one voice: our health reform must be grounded in equity, evidence, and dignity.

Join the conversation and share your perspective through the Global Health Reform – Africa Regional Dialogue Survey: Click here to share your insights via the survey.

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