Amid growing concerns over Africa’s widening health inequality, experts and policymakers have called for urgent reforms to strengthen health systems and increase domestic funding across the continent.
Speaking at the 2025 Gatefield Health Summit in Abuja, stakeholders warned that Africa bears 25% of the world’s disease burden but receives only 3% of global health spending. In Nigeria, per-person health expenditure averages just $5 annually, compared to about $4,500 in Europe.
Gatefield’s Lead Strategist, Adewunmi Emoruwa, described the situation as a “crisis of lost potential,” urging innovation and improved domestic financing. He said redirecting even 1% of diaspora remittances toward healthcare could increase Nigeria’s health budget by $200 million.
Other speakers, including Invictus Africa’s Adenike Adeoye and International Diabetes Federation president-elect, Niti Pall, stressed that investing in women’s health and empowering primary healthcare workers are key to improving outcomes.
The summit also highlighted the growing threat of non-communicable diseases and antimicrobial resistance, warning that without urgent action, these could claim up to 10 million African lives annually by 2050.
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