Bukola Afeni
Quality health care services are meant to be a fundamental human right for all citizens, irrespective of their ages and status in the society. Governments at the state and federal level should ensure that every citizen should have access to affordable health care services.
With collaborative efforts, increased awareness and sustained investments, the country can move closer to achieving its goal of equitable health care for all through Universal Health Coverage.
According to the World Health Organization, Universal Health Coverage means everyone having access to healthcare services that they need, of good quality and without the risk of financial hardship.
The high cost of health care services in different health facilities has served as a significant impediment to many Africans who have to pay out of their pockets, hospital bills, medication expenses, and even the cost of transportation to health facilities is a source of concern to many families.
The Africa continent has come up with different innovative ideas and solutions that will bring about the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
While some countries have made some progress, there have been some challenges in others , such as inadequate health care infrastructure, health care worker shortages, and lack of infrastructures.
Addressing these systemic challenges requires concerted efforts from both the government and various stakeholders in the health sector.
Different stakeholders and bodies have come up with several innovations that will transform the health sector, and bring about the attainment of Universal Health Coverage.
The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award is the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) and Speak Up Africa’s flagship program focused on supporting young health entrepreneurs across Africa with the tools they need to advance promising healthcare solutions for the betterment of their communities.
Launched in 2021, the 1st edition of the Award focused on solutions that supported, equipped, protected, and trained healthcare workers working tirelessly to protect and treat the public amid-st the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2023 award is meant to seek and nurture health innovations that will enable the citizens to get closer to the vision of UHC.
The CEO of Pharmarun(Nigeria) Pharmacist Teniola Aderonke Adedeji, the first prize winner of the award, runs an on-demand platform that offers a convenient solution to fragmented access to essential medications.
Her organization is committed to ensuring medication access through fostering more collaborations among pharmacies to ensure universal health coverage.
She disclosed that the adoption of innovative health financing models, stronger public-private partnerships, and the development of robust healthcare infrastructure are contributing to UHC progress in Nigeria.
The CEO highlighted that the continent is home to several noteworthy solutions making a significant impact in the health sector .
“Some of the health solutions include mobile health apps that provide access to healthcare information like “Hello Doctors” out of South Africa. There exists different Telemedicine platforms that enable patients to consult with healthcare professionals especially in underserved regions like “Baobab circle” in Kenya.
“We also have the EHR (Electronic Health Record) systems that improve patient data management, and health data analytics to aid policymakers make more informed decisions like “Helium” from Nigeria. We also have supply chain management innovations to reduce stock outs and ensure medication availability like what our organization “Pharmarun” is doing in Nigeria”, she said.
Pharmacist Teniola disclosed that many African countries have shown commitment towards expanding access to healthcare services and financial protection for their citizens.
“Homegrown solutions are being utilized in improving Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria.We have witnessed several innovative homegrown solutions aimed at improving Universal Health Coverage. Some notable examples of these include Chekker and HealthTracka, which provides on-demand testing services by delivering home health test kits to individuals.Another example is Life bank, which specializes in the delivery of blood and blood products. Eight Medical, who also provides on-demand health care services “, she said.
While speaking about innovations, she noted that young entrepreneurs often deeply understand local healthcare needs and cultural nuances.
“It allows them to develop context-specific solutions that are more likely to be effective and accepted by the local population. Many African entrepreneurs have gained exposure to global best practices and innovations through education, international networks, and collaborations. It enables them to adopt and adapt successful healthcare models worldwide”, Teniola said.
The Pharmarun boss further disclosed that Africa can do more by encouraging more nuanced public-private partnerships, promoting awareness and offering educational programs about the importance of health entrepreneurship, and ensuring regulatory clarity to make it easier for entrepreneurs to operate in compliance with the law.
”Support for health entrepreneurs in Africa is crucial. So far, this support has come for health entrepreneurs in various forms: in terms of funding opportunities, incubators and accelerators, as well as networks and collaboration within the sector. However, lack of immediate gratification in healthcare businesses can be a deterrent for some investors who may prefer faster returns.
“It is essential to recognize that healthcare entrepreneurship has the potential for substantial and lasting impact. It directly addresses critical issues related to public health and well-being, which are fundamental for the long-term development of the continent”, she noted.
The second prize winner of the African Youth Innovators for Health Award, Mr Abdullahi Muhammad Habibu urged the government to improve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by allocating a higher percentage of the national budget to healthcare .
“ It is critical for the government to encourage private sector involvement in the health insurance sector, both at the state and national level.UHC is an attainable goal, and with the right strategies, Nigeria can make significant progress in ensuring that every citizen has access to quality healthcare without financial hardship” he indicated.
He however opined that Africa is making some level of progress in terms of Universal Health Coverage, but much can still be done to expand health care coverage in different African countries.
‘”Nigeria is making slight progress in controlling specific diseases like Coronavirus, Malaria, Diphtheria ,HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis through various programs and initiatives.The Federal Government has also rolled out a program for the population to be able to expand health insurance coverage to reduce out of pocket expenses for the masses.
“Some African countries like Senegal have recognized the importance of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and have made commitments to expand access to essential healthcare services for their populations. They are coming up with programs that empower young innovators in health”, he noted.
Mr Habibu further called for the establishment of health innovation hubs,incubators, and accelerators,laboratories, and research centers for health entrepreneurs to develop their products or services.
