Lagos: The decision by African elites to seek medical treatment abroad has highlighted concerns over the state of healthcare systems on the continent. Leaders play a crucial role in the development of healthcare infrastructure, and their frequent choice of foreign medical care has drawn attention to potential neglect of domestic health systems.
According to Deutsche Welle, the deaths of former Nigerian leader Muhammadu Buhari and Zambia’s Edgar Lungu in overseas medical facilities have intensified criticisms of African leaders’ lack of investment in local healthcare. Jamila Atiku, a public health researcher in Nigeria, expressed concerns about the inadequate healthcare infrastructure, citing issues like the lack of drugs and functional medical equipment.
A significant number of African countries, over 32 out of 54, have not prioritized health funding, often relying heavily on external donor aid. Jamila Atiku emphasized that such foreign funding is more about diplomacy than addressing the continent’s health challenges. African nations receive over $60 billion in health funding, which only covers a fraction of their actual healthcare financing needs.
The 2001 Abuja Declaration saw African Union member states pledging to allocate 15% of their national budgets to healthcare. However, only Rwanda, Botswana, and Cape Verde have consistently met this target. The World Health Organization reports that more than 30 AU member states allocate less than 10% of their budgets to healthcare, with some allocating as little as 5-7%.
The lack of funding has led to poorly functioning health systems, causing healthcare professionals to strike due to low pay. Itai Rusike from the Zimbabwe-based Community Working Group on Health noted that external funding reliance is unsustainable and inconsistent with achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Abuja target has become outdated, given the population increase and disease burden in Africa.
The dearth of specialized medical facilities drives many Africans to seek treatment abroad. Over 300,000 Africans travel to India annually for medical services, spending over $2 billion each year. Nigeria alone sees an estimated 5,000 citizens traveling abroad monthly for medical treatment, with a significant portion going to India.
Efforts are being made to improve the healthcare landscape in Africa. Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated plans to ensure the functionality of 17,000 primary healthcare facilities by 2027. Health experts, like Chamunorwa Mashoko, advocate for community-driven initiatives to establish functional healthcare systems.
The African Export-Import Bank launched a support facility in 2016 to develop specialized health facilities across Africa, aiming to reduce the trend of outbound medical tourism. Salako remains optimistic, stating that no health system is perfect, but improvements are on the horizon.