On March 4th, 2025, Financing Alliance for Health (FAH) and Novartis Sub-Saharan Africa co-hosted a high-level policy forum in Kigali, Rwanda. Themed “Health as an Investment: Innovative Financing for Sustainable Health Systems”, the event brought together over 60 stakeholders—including policymakers, economists, private sector leaders, and development partners—to explore how strategic investments and innovative financing can help close the continent’s $4.4 billion annual community health funding gap.
Africa’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) remains off track, with less than half the population having access to essential health services. The forum aimed to spark fresh thinking on financing models and policy reforms that can help reverse this trend by shifting the narrative—health should not be seen as a cost, but as a catalyst for socioeconomic growth and resilience.
Racey Muchilwa from Novartis spoke to the importance of access to life-saving medicines, sharing how strategic partnerships with Ministries of Health, NGOs, and CBOs have enabled Novartis to expand healthcare access across African communities. She also proposed a harmonized regulatory framework to streamline drug manufacturing and distribution. Dr. Amit Thakker urged African governments to define clear health priorities and ensure partnerships are symbiotic—designed to strengthen national systems sustainably. Finally, Dr. Semakula Muhammed showcased Rwanda’s leadership in health innovation, from government-hosted hackathons to legislative changes that fast-track procurement for digital health solutions.
The event wrapped up with a dynamic Q&A session, where participants discussed practical next steps to turn ideas into action. From developing results-based financing mechanisms to advocating for policy reforms and nurturing public-private partnerships, the energy in the room was clear: bold, collaborative action is needed to build the resilient health systems Africa deserves.
FAH and Novartis remain committed to fostering cross-sector partnerships and supporting governments in designing and financing sustainable health systems. The Kigali forum was a strong step forward—an opportunity not just to reflect, but to reimagine the future of health financing in Africa.
Wendy Wakhusama, Partnership and Grant Management Associate - CH4UHC
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