By Wendy Mkandawire
The Minister of Health and Sanitation Madalitso Baloyi, has challenged African countries to reduce dependence on external financing and imported medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and health technologies.
Speaking on Thursday, August 20, 2026, during the opening of the 5th Southern Africa Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (ReSCO) meeting in Windhoek, Namibia, Baloyi, who also chairs ReSCO, called for stronger regional action to build resilient, self-reliant health systems across Southern Africa
The minister emphasized the need for greater domestic health financing, expanded health insurance, stronger regional procurement, and increased investment in local manufacturing.
She said Southern Africa has the markets, talent, and resources to produce more of what its health systems need.
The minister urged countries to move away from fragmented national approaches toward regional solutions, arguing that collective demand can create the scale needed to attract investment and strengthen African manufacturing.
The meeting brings together ministers of health, regional leaders, and partners to advance Africa’s health security and sovereignty agenda.
Baloyi further challenged delegates to move beyond declarations to concrete decisions, commitments, timelines, and accountability.
He stressed the need for measurable progress in health financing, financial protection, and local production of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, and medical technologies.
