With the start of 2024, the healthcare landscape in Africa is poised for positive transformation. Despite the challenges faced in recent years, significant progress has been made. The continent is addressing issues including limited access to healthcare services, a shortage of healthcare professionals, and inadequate infrastructure. Although healthcare expenditure in many African countries still falls below the global average as of 2023, there is an outlook for improvement.

In 2024, Africa's healthcare sector not only presents challenges but also significant opportunities for growth and innovation. Areas such as local vaccine production and digital health technologies are gaining prominence, promising enhanced access and improved quality of healthcare throughout the continent.

Here are the trends that are likely to dominate the healthcare and life sciences headlines:

Local Manufacturing of Vaccines

In response to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an expected surge in the local production of vaccines. This shift aims to address the continent's dependency on vaccine imports, which often leads to supply chain issues and delayed vaccination campaigns. Several new initiatives have been launched and plans have been drawn up for more vaccine self-sufficiency and self-reliance in Africa.¹

Morocco has made significant strides in vaccine production, notably through the SENSYO Pharmatech plant, a collaboration with Sweden's Recipharm. This substantial investment in the region's healthcare infrastructure, located in Benslimane between Casablanca and Rabat, totals between €400 million and €500 million. The facility aims to produce over 20 vaccine types and biotherapeutic products, addressing prevalent African diseases, with a significant focus on COVID-19 vaccines. By the end of the year, the plant aims to have a production capacity of approximately 116 million doses in the form of ready-filled syringes. This capacity is expected to cover over 70% of Morocco's vaccine needs and more than 60% of the vaccine needs across Africa.²

Another notable example of local vaccine manufacturing in Africa is the new facility established by BioNTech in Kigali³, Rwanda. Unveiled in December 2023, this facility is BioNTech's first site in Africa, focusing on the production of mRNA vaccines. The facility will produce various mRNA-based vaccines to meet the needs of African Union member states, potentially including the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and investigational vaccines for malaria and tuberculosis. The plant's annual production capacity could reach more than 50 million doses.

Expanding Health Insurance Coverage

Efforts to expand health insurance coverage to more Africans are anticipated to gain momentum. This expansion aims to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health, which is currently a significant barrier to accessing healthcare services. By 2024, more countries are likely to adopt and implement universal health coverage policies.

In Ghana, the National Health Insurance Scheme, one of the most successful in Africa, continues to expand, aiming to achieve universal coverage. The scheme covers a wide range of treatments, including outpatient services, maternity care, and surgeries, and is continually adapted to meet the needs of its population.⁴

In Morocco, there is an ambitious expansion of the AMO (Mandatory Health Insurance) aiming at providing comprehensive healthcare coverage to a broader segment of its population.⁵ This expansion of AMO is a clear indication of the commitment to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability for the citizens. This comprehensive approach is expected to positively impact the overall health outcomes in the country.

Advancements in Digital Health and Telemedicine

The use of technology in healthcare delivery is expected to continue its rapid growth. This includes the expansion of telemedicine services, which have been crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in diagnostics and patient care management. These technologies are not only making healthcare more accessible but also improving the quality and efficiency of care.

Morocco is actively enhancing its telemedicine services as part of its healthcare transformation.⁶ This initiative focuses on improving access to healthcare, particularly in remote areas and healthcare deserts, and addresses the challenges of physician shortages and unequal healthcare access. Telemedicine in Morocco, a subset of e-health, has become increasingly relevant, especially following the COVID-19 outbreak, which served as a catalyst for its adoption.

The deployment of mobile medical units equipped with telemedicine capabilities demonstrated the country's commitment to leveraging technology for public health improvements.

In other parts of the continent new innovative digital health platforms are emerging that enable patients to maintain and manage their health data and provide access for healthcare providers, enhancing care coordination and contributing to improved patient outcomes.

Growing role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

PPPs are set to play a crucial role in enhancing healthcare infrastructure and service delivery. Governments are increasingly collaborating with private entities to fund and manage healthcare projects, ranging from hospital constructions to digital health initiatives. This trend is likely to expand healthcare access and improve service quality in underserved areas.

In Nigeria, a Public-Private Partnership project led to the establishment of a state-of-the-art diagnostic center in Lagos.⁷ This center, funded by private investors and managed in partnership with the government, offers advanced medical imaging and laboratory services previously unavailable in the region.

Established in partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) and other organizations, Roche’s global access program aims to scale up access to HIV viral load tests and has expanded to include other critical infectious diseases. This program has contributed significantly to the global effort to eliminate HIV/AIDS and other diseases.⁸

These initiatives showcase the potential and effectiveness of PPPs in enhancing healthcare delivery and infrastructure in Africa, addressing gaps in healthcare services, and contributing to the overall improvement of public health on the continent.

Increased Focus on Mental Health

There's a growing recognition of mental health as a critical component of overall health. Efforts to destigmatize mental health issues and increase access to mental health services are likely to be emphasized. This includes the integration of mental health into primary healthcare and the development of digital platforms for mental health support.

Nigeria has established a groundbreaking mental health law (Nigeria's New Mental Health Act) that sets human rights protections for patients and promotes community-based care. This law serves as a potential model for other African countries, demonstrating a significant step towards improving mental health care and awareness.⁹

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a social media campaign to raise awareness and action for suicide prevention to raise public awareness and support from governments and policymakers for mental health programming, including suicide prevention efforts.¹⁰

Africa as a rising hub for Clinical Trials

Africa is increasingly recognized as a promising destination for clinical trials, driven by a combination of factors that include genetic diversity, a high disease burden, and a growing infrastructure for research. The continent's vast genetic diversity offers unique opportunities for medical research, particularly in understanding how genetic factors influence the efficacy of drugs and treatments.

For instance, recent trials in South Africa for a novel HIV vaccine have provided invaluable insights due to the genetic diversity of the participant pool.¹¹ Moreover, Africa's¹²  high burden of both infectious and non-communicable diseases presents a landscape where clinical trials can address unmet medical needs. Countries like Kenya and Nigeria have seen significant investments in research facilities and training programs, bolstering local expertise in conducting trials.

Furthermore, collaborations between African research institutions and global pharmaceutical companies are on the rise. These developments not only enhance the quality and relevance of clinical research but also promise to accelerate the development of treatments tailored to the African population and beyond.

In conclusion, while challenges remain, the future of healthcare in Africa is promising, with innovations and initiatives poised to significantly improve health outcomes across the continent and address the multifaceted healthcare needs of the African population.

Sources

¹Increasing Africa’s Vaccine Manufacturing Capacity Will Bring ‘Second Independence’ for the Continent | Health Policy Watch
²Morocco starts construction of COVID vaccine plant | Al Jazeera
³BioNTech Achieves Milestone at mRNA-based Vaccine Manufacturing Site in Rwanda | BioNTech Press Release
⁴Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme | A World Bank Study
⁵The Long Read: Moroccan Healthcare Reform – Lofty Ambitions, Universal Benefits | Pharma Boardroom
⁶Morocco: A Telehealth success story | Africa Healthcare IT News
⁷Partnering with the private laboratories to strengthen TB diagnostics in Nigeria | National Library of Medicine
⁸Roche Global Access Program
⁹From the Lunacy Act to the First Mental Health Act in Nigeria: Five Takeaways | National Health Watch
¹⁰WHO launches suicide awareness campaign in Africa | XinhuaNet
¹¹Clinical trial of HIV vaccine begins in United States and South Africa | National Institute of Health
¹²Africa: Unleashing the potential of the new superpower in clinical trials | Pharmaceutical Technology