The WHO warned that traditional budget allocations alone will not be enough to sustain resilient health systems. The message was delivered during the Joint Meeting of Southern African Development Community Ministers of Health in Johannesburg, South Africa.
WHO Africa Regional Director Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi said many African governments are beginning to shift their priorities, recognising that health can no longer be treated as a cost but must be positioned as a high‑budget investment that supports economic and social development.
“I have seen Ministers of Health changing priorities. Health is not a cost anymore, and it has to be high in the budgets of countries,” Janabi said.
He emphasised that innovative financing is not a one‑size‑fits‑all solution and must be tailored to each country’s fiscal realities. Among the mechanisms under consideration are debt‑for‑health swaps, expanded private‑sector participation and stronger engagement with civil society and philanthropists.
“There are a number of things which can be done for health swaps. You know the amount of money the continent is paying in servicing debts taken from the Northern bloc. Even when you combine education and health budgets, the money paid for servicing debt is higher,” Janabi explained.
He called for discussions with international partners to explore converting debt obligations into health investments, noting that these approaches could free up significant resources for essential services.
Janabi also urged governments to view health investment through an economic lens, including the promotion of local manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies to reduce import costs and build regional resilience. “We encourage all governments. The political commitment is there, but they should also look at the business part,” he said.
The WHO has long advocated for African countries to meet the Abuja Declaration target of allocating at least 15% of national budgets to health, but most remain far below that threshold. Janabi warned that without increased domestic financing, countries will continue to struggle with health emergencies, weak primary care systems and preventable losses of life.
–SABC/ChannelAfrica–
