WACI Health joined representatives of over 30 African parliaments and development partners at the 16th Network of African Parliamentary Committees on Health (NEAPACOH) meeting in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania from March 5–7, 2025.
Rosemary Mburu (Executive Director, WACI Health) delivered an intervention on the critical role of civil society in accelerating progress toward universal health coverage (UHC). Representing the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism for UHC2030 (CSEM), she presented key priority areas for parliamentarians and policymakers to accelerate the implementation of UHC in African countries.
The NEAPACOH meeting aimed to assess the continent’s progress toward achieving UHC and fulfilling the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda. Focus areas included: domestic financing for health, progress on the health of women, children, and adolescents in Africa, non-communicable diseases and immunization funding, progress towards UHC, and harnessing the demographic dividend for socio-economic transformation.
As a co-host of the CSEM Secretariat alongside Management Sciences for Health, WACI Health remains committed to ensuring that civil society perspectives are central in the UHC implementation conversation – nationally, regionally and globally.
In her presentation, Rosemary underscored the stark reality outlined in the 2023 Global Monitoring Report on UHC by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank. While UHC remains a global priority, progress has stalled, and financial barriers continue to push millions into poverty. 4.5 billion people—more than half the world’s population—still lack access to essential health services. Financial protection has deteriorated in 70 percent of countries over the past two decades. Unless governments act now, UHC will remain an unfilled promise, especially for the most vulnerable populations.
African leaders have recognized the importance of UHC by including it as a key objective in the Africa Health Strategy 2016–2030. In fact, between 2023 and 2024, 23 African countries increased their health spending as a percentage of GDP, moving closer to the aspirational target of 5%. However, we need to accelerate progress. The fact remains that 615 million people in Africa still lack essential health care services and 97 million people face catastrophic health care costs.
Rosemary called for urgent and coordinated action to change this trajectory. Governments must prioritise delivering on the global and regional commitments to UHC at the national level. Parliamentarians play a crucial role in strengthening support for health and building the political will necessary to make these commitments a reality.
She also called on policymakers to increase domestic financing for health and within that, prioritise financial protection for low-income and marginalized communities. Finally, governments must expand spaces for civil society engagement. The 2023 World Health Assembly Resolution on Social Participation for UHC provides a framework for ensuring that civil society voices are not only heard but are actively involved in shaping health policies. Parliamentarians should facilitate institutionalising social participation to ensure inclusive policies that are responsive to the needs of communities and accountable to the people they serve.
In her closing remarks, Rosemary reaffirmed civil society’s readiness to work alongside parliamentarians to accelerate the implementation of UHC. She urged decision-makers to champion bold policy reforms, increase domestic health investments, and create inclusive platforms where all stakeholders, especially the most vulnerable, can contribute to shaping the future of health in Africa.
Platforms like NEAPACOH are critical to strengthen the role of parliamentarians in improving health financing and developing equitable policy frameworks for health. We look forward to continuing to support regional leadership and coordinated actions toward health for all.
To join the Civil Society Engagement Mechanism (CSEM) on UHC2030, register here.
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