Health authorities in Africa have expressed concern over massive losses in the sector, warning that nearly 40 per cent of health resources are being wasted across the continent due to inefficiency and weak governance.
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) raised the alarm, saying the situation reflects deep structural and management gaps within African health systems.
The Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at Africa CDC, Tolbert Nyenswah, disclosed this on Thursday during a weekly high-level regional press briefing.
Nyenswah said the situation, though alarming, could be reversed through improved accountability, stronger governance structures, and more efficient public financial management across the continent.
According to him, “fixing these inefficiencies is not just about more money; it is about smarter use of existing resources”, stressing that billions of dollars could be redirected to essential health services without increasing national budgets.
He explained that better coordination and transparency in health spending would significantly strengthen Africa’s health systems and improve service delivery.
The briefing also noted encouraging progress in some countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is moving towards allocating 14.5 per cent of its national budget to health in line with the Abuja Declaration target.
Nyenswah further highlighted that a rising number of public health challenges are being driven by climate and environmental factors, while antimicrobial resistance continues to place additional strain on already overstretched systems.
He said Africa CDC has secured more than $250 million in strategic investments from partners including the European Union, Global Fund, and Pandemic Fund to support One Health initiatives, climate-resilient systems, and pandemic preparedness across the continent.
He urged African governments to prioritise reforms that improve efficiency and accountability, warning that failure to act could undermine progress toward achieving key health targets.
