Lagos: The decision of African elites to seek medical treatment abroad has sparked debate about the state of healthcare systems in their home countries. Choosing where to seek medical help is a deeply private decision, yet the numerous occasions African leaders have sought treatment abroad have thrown the spotlight on local health care investment. To a large extent, leaders are responsible for the development of proper health care for the citizens of their countries.
According to Deutsche Welle, the deaths of former leaders Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria and Edgar Lungu of Zambia in foreign medical facilities have not quelled accusations that African leaders neglect public health systems in their own countries. Jamila Atiku, a researcher on public health in Nigeria, highlighted that the state of healthcare in Nigeria is concerning, with significant issues in infrastructure, lack of drugs, and functional medical equipment.
Mashoko, an expert cited by DW, noted that over 32 out of 54 African countries do not allocate significant budgets to health, largely due to overdependence on donor aid. He emphasized that foreign funding is often more about diplomacy than addressing real health challenges. Despite receiving over $60 billion in health funding, African countries still face a financing crisis in healthcare.
Under the 2001 Abuja Declaration, African Union (AU) member states committed to allocating 15% of their annual national budgets to healthcare. However, only three countries—Rwanda, Botswana, and Cape Verde—have met or exceeded this target consistently. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that over 30 AU member states allocate less than 10% of their budget to healthcare.
The inadequacy of public financing has resulted in poorly run health systems across many African countries. Itai Rusike, from the Zimbabwe-based Community Working Group on Health, stated that over-reliance on external funding is unsustainable and inconsistent with achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Abuja target is considered outdated due to population growth and increasing disease burdens.
The lack of specialized treatment and facilities is driving many Africans to seek medical treatment abroad. Over 300,000 Africans travel to India annually for medical services, spending over $2 billion each year. Nigeria alone spends an estimated $1 billion annually on medical tourism, with many patients seeking oncology, orthopedics, nephrology, and cardiology services.
Efforts are being made to improve healthcare systems. Nigeria's Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, indicated plans to ensure 17,000 primary health care facilities are functional by 2027. Health experts stress the need for African governments to build modern health facilities to reduce dependency on foreign medical services. Chamunorwa Mashoko, a health rights advocate, emphasized community-driven solutions to create effective healthcare systems.
In 2016, Afreximbank launched a support facility to build specialized health facilities across Africa to reduce outbound medical tourism. Despite these initiatives, significant challenges remain in achieving comprehensive healthcare solutions for African nations.