Roche Urges Africa to Prioritize Health Sovereignty Over External Dependence
Dr. Allan Pamba, Executive Vice President for Diagnostics in Africa at Roche Diagnostics, has called on African nations to reduce reliance on foreign aid and prioritize homegrown health solutions.
Speaking ahead of the ongoing 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), Dr. Pamba emphasized the need for African-led strategies to address the continent’s health challenges.
In a statement made available to PUNCH Online on Friday, Dr. Pamba urged world leaders to ensure that Africa’s priorities are central to global health commitments.
He highlighted that the continent’s health systems must be resilient, sustainable, and aligned with local needs.
“As the world gathers for the 80th UNGA, the global health agenda is under the spotlight. Africa’s health future will not be secured through external dependence, but through partnerships that are co-created, sustainable, and grounded in sovereignty,” he said.
Dr. Pamba explained that co-created health systems thrive when trust, shared responsibility, and collaboration are central.
“It is about bringing together ministries, industry, civil society, and communities to design solutions that reflect local realities and priorities,” he added.
Highlighting recent challenges, he noted that pandemics, funding shifts, and political uncertainties have exposed vulnerabilities in many African health systems.
He stressed the importance of innovative, predictable, and locally anchored financing mechanisms, including domestic procurement, tax structures, and regional pooled funding.
“Global commitments will always matter, but they cannot be the entire solution. For too long, reliance on external funding has left essential services vulnerable to shifting global priorities. Ministries of Health must take the lead to demonstrate that Africa can chart its own course,” Dr. Pamba said.
He also clarified that advocating for health sovereignty does not reject global collaboration but seeks to recalibrate partnerships to strengthen African leadership rather than replace it.
According to Dr. Pamba, UNGA offers a critical platform to push for sustainable, long-term financing models that move beyond temporary solutions.
