UHC Day 2025: WHO Warns Soaring Health Costs Are Pushing Millions Of Africans Into Poverty
As the world marks Universal Health Coverage (UHC) Day 2025, a stark reality confronts Africa: for millions of households, the decision to seek medical care remains a financial gamble.
While the theme “Unaffordable health costs? We’re sick of it!” captures global frustration, it reflects an everyday truth for families who must choose between treatment and survival.
In a message to commemorate the day, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, warned that healthcare costs across the continent continue to push people deeper into hardship, despite notable improvements in service coverage in recent years.
Out-of-pocket payments dominate health spending in the region, accounting for more than 25% of total health expenditure in 31 countries, and exceeding 70% in two countries.
These costs, Dr Janabi said, force families into impossible choices: “between care and food, between medicines and school fees, between dignity and survival.”
According to the latest global UHC report, more than 423 million people in Africa faced financial hardship due to out-of-pocket health spending in 2022, with over 384 million people pushed into, or further into, poverty as a result.
Despite these challenges, Africa has made the strongest global gains in service coverage for noncommunicable diseases, progress largely driven by declining tobacco use.
Improvements have also been recorded in maternal and child health, infectious diseases and health service capacity.
Dr Janabi stressed that financial protection remains the region’s “most stubborn challenge,” disproportionately affecting women, children, older persons and rural communities.
He called on governments and partners to accelerate reforms that make healthcare affordable for all. Key priorities include:
Increasing domestic health investment to ease out-of-pocket burdens
Expanding prepayment and risk-pooling systems, especially for the poorest
Strengthening primary health care as the most equitable route to UHC
Investing in the health workforce, facilities and supply chains
Using data to improve transparency, accountability and resource allocation
With new evidence and renewed political momentum, Dr Janabi noted that 2025 offers a pivotal opportunity to advance health financing reforms and build systems that protect people from financial ruin.
“Let’s turn commitment into action,” he urged. “Let’s build resilient, inclusive and equitable health systems that ensure every person can exercise their right to health—without financial barriers.”
Follow the Savinews Africa channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VawgaEL5vKA9Y5XTFg0n
