The Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Group and Founder of The Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, emphasized the importance of directing appropriate funding and investments towards innovation to enhance healthcare outcomes in Africa. He mentioned that his foundation has supported 700 healthcare entrepreneurs, with almost an equal gender distribution of 49% male and 51% female. Elumelu made these statements during the Abu Dhabi Health Forum in the United Arab Emirates.
He also highlighted the need for significant pharmaceutical companies to contribute to ensuring a sustainable healthcare future for all by calling for reforms in the current patent system and encouraging innovation. Elumelu stressed the importance of partnerships between big pharma and research and development efforts focused on diseases in lower-income countries. Additionally, he underlined the necessity of creating incentives for big pharmaceutical companies to invest in research and development and manufacturing facilities in developing nations to promote global health equality.
Elumelu pointed out the challenges posed by unreliable power supply in many African healthcare facilities, affecting the quality of health outcomes. He mentioned that climate change further complicates access to healthcare and suggested accessing climate funds to address healthcare issues.
By advocating for private sector innovation, foundation and financial support for startups, comprehensive health policies, and collaboration across sectors, Elumelu expressed confidence in advancing global health outcomes. He stressed the importance of achieving global health equity, particularly in regions like Africa with limited resources and insufficient healthcare infrastructure.
From: Amadi Vincent
