Health experts seek partnerships to improve access to healthcare in Africa

Experts drawn from the pharmaceutical industry in Africa on Monday called for strategic partnerships between both the public and private sectors to improve healthcare delivery in the sub-Saharan region.

Speaking in Nairobi during a conference on Improving Access to Medicines through Partnerships in Sub-Saharan Africa organized by Takeda, a pharmaceutical company, the team of experts noted that a majority of patients arrive too late for healthcare due to lack of awareness on health issues or lack of access to healthcare facilities.

Josh Ruxin, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Goodlife Pharmacies, said billions of dollars have been pumped into the sub-Saharan region to combat ailments such as HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis often yielding tremendous results.

"However, the tide has changed. Other diseases, especially Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer are now the leading cause of death," said Ruxin in a keynote address.

He said there was a need to rationalize healthcare systems and channel funds toward increased access to basic health services and access to essential medicines.

According to data from International Finance Corporation, sub-Saharan Africa is ranked as having the worst health on average in the world. The region has 11 percent of the world's population but carries 24 percent of the global disease burden.

Ruxin noted that in Kenya alone, non-communicable diseases account for more than 50 percent of total hospital admissions and over 55 percent of hospital deaths.

Disease such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes are becoming commonplace due to more sedentary lifestyles and shifts in eating habits.

Healthcare has increasingly become an economic burden to the family unit in Africa and a leading cause for emerging consumers to fall back into poverty.

It is now estimated that Kenyans spend about 100 million dollars annually overseas on cancer treatment.

Ruxin noted that it was critical for the renewed effort to improve healthcare in the region to focus on developing sustainable, mutually beneficial partnerships that span from the public to the private sector. Endit