AUC Chairperson at the High-Level Forum on Sustainable Health Financing

At the High-Level Forum on Sustainable #Health Financing, held on the margins of the Fifty-Eighth Session of the @ECA_OFFICIAL Conference of #African Ministers of Finance, Planning & Economic Development in Tangiers, Morocco this morning, the Chairperson of the AU Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, delivered a clear message: "Health is not a cost; it is a strategic economic asset." Africa must invest in its health systems to protect sovereignty, drive growth, & build resilience.

The current model, marked by low public financing and high out-of-pocket payments, is unsustainable, pushing millions into poverty. With rising debt and fiscal pressure, "the time for reform is now," he added.
The Chairperson underscored that linking budget reform, innovative financing, digital governance, and regional integration can unlock a new paradigm. The AU's Africa CDC and AfCFTA are central to this transformation, strengthening preparedness, reducing costs, and advancing pharmaceutical and vaccine sovereignty.

He concluded by stating that "today's forum must deliver action: a coalition of countries ready to move faster, and commitments that are concrete, time-bound, and accountable." Health must become a pillar of Africa's sovereignty.