Pamba pushes for African ownership of health financing at UNGA

The Executive Vice President for Diagnostics in Africa at Roche Diagnostics, Dr. Allan Pamba, has urged the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to put African-led health solutions at the center of its commitments instead of depending heavily on foreign aid.
 
In a statement released, Dr. Pamba called on world leaders at the ongoing UNGA 80 to ensure that Africa’s health priorities are not overlooked but firmly included in global health decisions.
 
His call comes as African leaders and development experts increasingly push for health sovereignty—the ability of African countries to design, fund, and deliver health services based on their own needs and priorities.
 
Dr. Pamba said the UNGA presents an important opportunity for Africa. He stressed that Africa’s health future cannot be secured through external dependence but through sustainable partnerships that are co-created and driven by local ownership.
 
He noted that the last few years have shown how fragile African health systems can be, with funding changes, pandemics, and political instability exposing their weaknesses.
 
According to him, the strongest health systems are built on trust, shared responsibility, and collaboration between ministries, industry, civil society, and local communities. He explained that effective health coverage goes beyond money and technical support—it requires solutions that reflect Africa’s realities.
 
Dr. Pamba added that Africa needs financing models that are innovative, reliable, and rooted locally. While global support is useful, it cannot remain the main pillar of Africa’s health services.
 
He emphasized that domestic financing—through direct procurement, innovative tax systems, or regional pooled resources—is a clear path to building sovereignty. Ministries of Health must take the lead in securing essential medical services such as diagnostics, showing citizens and global partners that Africa can direct its own health journey.
 
He explained that health sovereignty is not about rejecting global partnerships but reshaping them to ensure they strengthen Africa’s leadership instead of replacing it.
 
Finally, he stressed that the UNGA is a chance to push for long-term financing models that go beyond short-term fixes, giving Africa the power to secure its own health future.