NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Ruto has called for a fundamental shift in global health governance, urging greater African leadership, investment, and innovation as he officially opened the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026 in Nairobi.
In his keynote address on Monday, Ruto said Africa must move from being a passive participant to an active architect of global health systems, stressing that the continent’s role in shaping policy, innovation, and delivery is now critical.
“This Summit reflects a fundamental shift in the global recognition that Africa is no longer a passive participant in global health, but an active architect of its direction, its priorities, and its outcomes,” he said.
The President noted that while Africa bears more than 25pc of the global disease burden, it accounts for less than 3pc of global health expenditure, highlighting deep structural inequalities in financing and access.
He also pointed to the continent’s reliance on imports, noting that Africa produces less than 2pc of the medicines and vaccines it consumes, a gap he described as unsustainable.
“This imbalance is neither sustainable nor tenable. It calls for a decisive shift from fragmented interventions to comprehensive, system-wide transformation,” Ruto said.
Kenya’s Reform Model
Ruto used the forum to outline Kenya’s ongoing health sector reforms, anchored on universal health coverage and institutional restructuring.
He cited the establishment of the Social Health Authority as a key pillar in expanding access to healthcare through a unified financing model.
According to the President, nearly 30.7 million Kenyans have registered with the Authority since its launch in October 2024, up from fewer than 8 million insured individuals two years earlier.
He said the government has mobilised Sh169 billion across multiple health funds and disbursed Sh124 billion to facilities for services rendered, aiming to reduce out-of-pocket costs and improve access.
The administration has also deployed over 100,000 community health promoters to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and enhance early detection and prevention at the household level.
Ruto emphasised the role of digital health systems in improving efficiency, transparency, and accountability, noting that real-time data integration is critical for effective service delivery.
“These reforms have neither been easy nor flawless, but they represent meaningful progress and a clear departure from the constraints of the past,” he said.
Continental Priorities
At the continental level, Ruto urged African governments to increase domestic health financing, invest in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and strengthen the health workforce.
He also called for greater preparedness for future health emergencies through enhanced surveillance systems, regional coordination, and stronger institutions.
The President highlighted emerging challenges such as non-communicable diseases, mental health conditions, and climate change, warning that they require coordinated, long-term responses.
“Africa must position itself at the forefront of biotechnology and advanced research, transitioning from a consumer of innovation to a producer of globally relevant solutions,” he said.
Call for Strategic Partnerships
Ruto appealed to international partners to support Africa through long-term, mutually beneficial investments aligned with national priorities, rather than short-term aid.
“A healthy Africa is indispensable to global stability, economic growth, and shared prosperity,” he said. “The question is not whether to invest in Africa, but how to do so in a manner that is strategic, sustainable, and transformative.”
The President concluded by formally declaring the summit open, setting the stage for high-level discussions on the future of health systems in Africa and beyond.
