Africa must build self-reliant healthcare systems — Ameka

Anthony K. Ameka, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation of Africa Medical Equipment, Disposables and Devices Manufacturers and Suppliers (FOAMEDDMS), has urged African governments and stakeholders to take decisive steps towards reducing the continent’s heavy reliance on imported medical supplies and building stronger, self-sufficient healthcare systems.

He made the call on June 8, 2026, while delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 5th West Africa Pharma & Healthcare Expo 2026 held at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA). The event brought together key health sector players, including the High Commissioner of India to Ghana, the Minister of Health, the President of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Rector of the Ghana College of Pharmacy, the CEO of COA RMCL, and the Deputy Director General of the Ghana Health Service.

Mr Ameka said the Expo’s theme, “Advancing Healthcare, Connecting Africa,” must move beyond rhetoric into concrete action, describing it as a roadmap for health security, industrial growth, innovation, and long-term development across the continent.

“Advancing Healthcare, Connecting Africa is not merely a vision for better healthcare delivery; it is a continental agenda for health security, pharmaceutical industrialization, technological innovation, economic transformation, and sustainable development,” Ameka said.

He added that “the future of Africa’s prosperity will depend on its ability to build interconnected, resilient, and self-reliant healthcare systems that serve both its people and its economies.”

Drawing on a traditional Ewe proverb, “Ati deka me tso ave o” – “One tree does not make a forest”, he emphasised that collaboration among African states is essential to achieving meaningful progress in the health sector.

He also highlighted what he described as a major structural imbalance in global healthcare supply chains, noting that although Africa accounts for 18% of the world’s population and 25% of its disease burden, it produces just 3% of global pharmaceuticals.

According to him, between 70% and 80% of medicines consumed on the continent are imported, while more than 95% of active pharmaceutical ingredients and over 90% of advanced medical devices, diagnostics, and health technologies are sourced externally.

He pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic as a clear warning of Africa’s vulnerability, saying the crisis exposed severe shortages of vaccines, diagnostics, oxygen systems, personal protective equipment, and essential medicines across the continent due to disrupted global supply chains.

Despite these challenges, Mr Ameka said the situation presents Africa with a major economic opportunity, particularly as demand for healthcare products continues to rise.

With Africa’s pharmaceutical market currently valued at over US$70 billion and projected to exceed US$100 billion by 2030, alongside a medical devices market expected to grow from US$9.7 billion in 2024 to nearly US$15 billion by 2033, he said the continent stands to benefit significantly from local industrial development.

He called for a shift away from fragmented systems towards what he described as a “connected healthcare ecosystem,” involving governments, regulators, manufacturers, healthcare providers, researchers, investors, and communities working in coordination.

Mr Ameka further underscored the importance of continental frameworks such as the African Medicines Agency (AMA), the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonisation (AMRH), and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), as well as the African Union’s target of producing 60% of vaccines locally by 2040.

On digital transformation, he noted that rising internet penetration, from 10% in 2010 to over 38% today, and mobile phone usage above 80% in many African countries present opportunities to expand telemedicine, artificial intelligence, and digital diagnostics to address workforce shortages.

He also warned of a widening human resource gap, noting that Africa carries 25% of the global disease burden but has only 3% of the world’s health workforce, with the World Health Organization projecting a shortfall of 6.1 million health workers by 2030.

“Our youthful population is our greatest comparative advantage,” Ameka added. “By 2050, one in every four people in the world will be African. We must modernise curricula, expand research capacity, and provide industry-based training so this demographic dividend drives healthcare innovation and manufacturing.”

On the economic front, he argued that investing in local healthcare production would reduce foreign exchange pressure, retain value within African economies, and create jobs across manufacturing, logistics, engineering, and research and development.

He commended the organisers of the Expo for providing a platform for collaboration and urged stakeholders to ensure it becomes a launchpad for tangible action rather than discussion alone.

“Africa’s healthcare future will not be determined by the challenges we face, but by the choices we make and the actions we take today,” he stressed.

The 5th West Africa Pharma & Healthcare Expo 2026 continues at UPSA, bringing together industry leaders and stakeholders to explore solutions for the continent’s healthcare and industrial transformation.