UHC and Health Systems Strengthening

Date: Tuesday, 11 December 2018
Time: 13:30 – 15:00
Location: Congress Hall

Session Overview:
The future of healthcare in Africa is public and private. Thus, Africa’s journey to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) will not succeed without substantial private sector participation, innovation, and effective public-private partnership approaches. There are opportunities galore for the private sector to play a transformative role in all three of the pillars of UHC – expanding ACCESS, improving QUALITY and reducing the IMPOVERISHING effects of out-of-pocket expenditure. Good laboratory practices and services are essential to evidence-based medicine, and by extension, QUALITY of care. Access to good laboratory services will determine the pace and extent to which UHC will be obtained in Africa. It will also play a significant role in reducing wastage and the cost of care.

Indeed, the private sector is already a dominant player in the provision of clinical laboratory services on the continent, often of variable quality. In many countries, the first encounter with laboratory services will be a privately run small enterprise and not big public one at a district hospital. Partnering with the private sector and ensuring the quality of healthcare in general and laboratory services in particular, are imperative to achieve UHC.

This session will review the status of laboratory services in both anglophone and francophone Africa, exploring the role of the private sector, potential areas for PPPs, challenges, and investment opportunities to achieve UHC. Possible strategies to ensure the sustainable implementation of quality healthcare under economic pressure will be discussed.

  • Moderator, Khama Rogo
  • Lead Health Sector Specialist, World Bank Group, United States
  • Moderator, Sten Westgard
    • Director of Client Services and Technology, Westgard QC, United States
    • Photo – https://www.dropbox.com/s/53dgukfzca40a8e/Sten%20Westgard-headshot.jpg?dl=0
  • Panelists
    • Everlyne Macharia
      • Member, Kenya Medical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians Board and Chairman, Quality Assurance Committee; Head Diagnostic Services Coordinator, Nyandarua County Health Office (Laboratory and Radiological Services), Ministry of Health, Kenya
      • THE KENYA MEDICAL TECHNICIANS and TECHNOLOGISTS BOARD STRATEGY IN ACHIEVING UHC THROUGH PUBLIC PRIVATE PATNERSHIP
  • Chikwe Ihekweazu
    • Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Nigeria
    • UHC and Health Security: Nigeria’s Experience in this Dual-Carriage Expressway
  • Hon Dr. Isaac Adewole
  • Federal Minister of Health, Nigeria (TBC)
  • Hon Dr Chitalu Chilufya
    • Minister of Public Health, Zambia
  • Hon Joyce Muriku
    • State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Uganda