NATHEALTH-Healthcare Federation of India and Africa Healthcare Federation (AHF) have signed a path-breaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to increase healthcare collaboration between the two federations with potential to result in increased investment and business in healthcare between India and Africa.

The Summit theme, ‘Fostering South-South Collaboration between the Healthcare Federations of India and Africa to achieve Universal Health Coverage’ sends out an important message that collaboration is central to realising the goal of UHC and it is important that key stakeholders work together to build bridges across sectors and drive new initiatives to fix infrastructural gaps, improve health access and outcomes.

In partnership with NATHEALTH, PwC India, launched its report titled, ‘Unlocking the potential of India-Africa collaboration for healthcare innovation’ at the event. The report highlights the importance of innovative healthcare approaches that can transform the traditional healthcare systems by ensuring quality healthcare, one that is accessible and affordable for all.

The focus will be to bring transparency in referral mechanism/fees and the need of travel for treatment, for smooth VISA processing and Immigration. Establishing partnerships for diagnostic tests, emergency air evacuations will also be a priority. NATHEALTH and AHF will map skill transfer and training requirements to identify the key gaps that needs attention and look at the potential for e-learning and use of other technologies to bring down the costs.

The two federations will identify gap areas by gauging industry interest on both ends for investments and categorise the ways and policy interventions needed to safeguard investor interests and highlight the alternate financing mechanisms available 

Key focus areas also include addressing the need for harmonisation of regulatory requirements and building expertise for pharmaceutical manufacturing in GMP. The focus will also be on Increasing investment into R&D in Africa through collaborative research, twinning programmes that include galenic development, Centre of API manufacturing, etc.

The task force will consist of seven to nine members and will be jointly led by representatives from AHF and NATHEALTH. The members will include Industry partners, Development partners, Government representatives, Key experts in their individual capacity or as part of relevant institutions and Knowledge partners. Within the first quarter, each task force will be expected to present an Action Plan on their area detailing out the objectives and scope of thematic area, key outcomes expected at end of 1 year, policy areas to be covered and key stakeholders to be engaged.