The Minister of Health participates in the joint ministerial meeting of the African Union Commission
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population, participated via “video conferencing” technology. In the joint ministerial meeting held by the African Union Commission (Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development), to enhance cooperation between member states and increase health financing on the continent.
The minister stressed, during his speech, that the meeting comes in implementation of the Addis Ababa Declaration and the principle of shared responsibility, noting that the continent is going through a critical moment that requires fateful decisions to confront the 70% decline in official development aid (from $80 billion in 2021 to 24 billion dollars in 2025), and escalating debt burdens, inflation, and health emergencies.
He warned that inaction could lead to a rollback of the gains of two decades, a rise in preventable deaths, and pushing 39 million Africans into poverty by 2030 due to catastrophic out-of-pocket spending.
He praised the role of the Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). And his tripartite strategy to achieve health sovereignty: mobilizing local resources, innovative financing mechanisms “solidarity fees and health taxes,” and mixed financing with private sector participation in infrastructure, local manufacturing, and digital transformation.
He pointed out that good governance, transparent procurement, and digital systems are the key to directing every dollar to serve health sovereignty.
The minister presented the successful Egyptian experience despite the pressures. Global health budget has doubled four times over the past decade to reach one trillion pounds in 2024, and allocations have increased by 30.4% in the 2023/2024 budget, with the launch of the comprehensive health insurance system since 2019, and 15 presidential initiatives that have provided 260 million services across more than 3,500 primary care units.
He stressed that investing in prevention achieves returns. High (every dollar in vaccinations provides $16-44, and in nutrition it reaches $23), and that Egypt’s approach depends on strengthening the public sector with broad partnerships with the private sector.
He concluded with 3 main messages that are consistent with the Africa CDC framework: local commitment is irreplaceable, reform must be comprehensive, and partnerships multiply the impact.
Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar concluded by affirming the readiness Egypt fully cooperates with the countries of the continent through the African Union and Africa CDC to achieve health sovereignty, justice and flexibility for every African citizen.
