40% Health Funds Wasted Inefficiently, Africa-CDC Warns

The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC) has warned that nearly 40 per cent of health resources in Africa are being lost due to inefficiency and poor governance.

Dr. Tolbert Nyenswah, Director for Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response at Africa-CDC, made the disclosure on Thursday during the agency’s weekly high-level regional press briefing. He said the situation could be reversed, unlocking billions of dollars in health resources without additional funding.

“Fixing these inefficiencies is not just about more money; it is about smarter use of existing resources,” Nyenswah said. He stressed that strengthening governance, improving efficiency, and ensuring accountable public financial management were critical to transforming Africa’s health systems.

He added that countries could redirect billions into essential services by making existing funds work more effectively, avoiding the need for increased budgets.

The briefing also highlighted progress in some countries, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is moving toward allocating 14.5 per cent of its national budget to health, in line with the Abuja Declaration.

Nyenswah noted that a growing number of public health events are linked to climate and environmental factors, and emerging threats like antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.

To address these challenges, Africa-CDC has secured over $250 million in strategic investments from partners including the European Union, Global Fund, and Pandemic Fund, targeting One Health initiatives, climate-resilient systems, and pandemic preparedness.

He called on African governments to prioritise efficiency and governance reforms, warning that without action, the continent’s health goals will remain out of reach.