By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to rethink healthcare as an investment rather than simply a budgetary expense, arguing that stronger health systems can generate significant economic and social returns while protecting national resources.
President Mahama says evidence from across the continent and beyond shows that investment in healthcare can deliver substantial economic benefits, particularly by reducing preventable deaths and improving productivity.
“A targeted package of basic emergency maternal and newborn care can yield $87 in economic and social returns for every single dollar that is invested.”
He says improvements in health outcomes have also contributed significantly to economic growth in developing countries, reinforcing the case for sustained investment in healthcare.
“The Lancet Commission established that falling mortality rates accounted for nearly a quarter of total income growth in developing economies in the early 2000s.”
The President says the economic case for healthcare investment is particularly important at a time when traditional donor assistance to Africa is declining, putting greater responsibility on governments and domestic investors to mobilise resources.
“And so investing in healthcare strengthens our balance sheets rather than depleting resources.”
He is therefore calling for a shift in how African countries approach healthcare financing, with greater emphasis on investments that can deliver long-term economic and social returns.
“So let us stop treating health as a line-item expense in our budgets. Let us build factories, integrate supply chains, fund innovators, and secure our citizens’ future.”
President Mahama says placing health investment at the centre of Africa’s development strategy will be critical to building resilient economies, protecting citizens and securing the continent’s future.
