On Saturday, October 3, President John Dramani Mahama addressed the Health Plenary of the Alamein Africa Forum in Alamein, Egypt, calling for a fundamental shift in how African governments finance healthcare. He argued that health must be treated as an investable economic sector rather than a social expenditure that is only funded when budgets allow.
Mahama said that investment in health is central to Africa’s economic transformation, human capital development, job creation and macroeconomic stability. "For decades, African Finance Ministers and global investors have made a fundamental error: they have treated health as a line‑item cost—a social expenditure to be funded only when there is budget left over," he said. "Health is not a charitable cause; it is an investable, high‑growth economic sector."
He cited evidence that targeted basic emergency maternal and newborn care can generate significant economic and social returns for every dollar invested. He also referenced research by the Lancet Commission showing that reductions in mortality accounted for nearly a quarter of total income growth in developing economies in the early 2000s.
Mahama urged governments, private capital, commercial banks, industrial developers and sovereign funds to view health investment as an important component of Africa’s economic future. "Investing in health strengthens our balance sheets rather than depleting resources," he said.
The president’s remarks highlight a growing consensus that a stronger health sector will not only improve citizens’ wellbeing but also strengthen national economies. African leaders and investors will need to decide how to translate this vision into concrete policy and funding strategies in the coming months.
