In a continent, like Africa, where digital transformation is underway, health data is highly strategic. When used wisely, it can provide advanced analytics, disease modeling, and enhance various forecasts.

The African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Smart Africa Alliance plan to accelerate the use of digital technologies to improve care and strengthen health systems on the continent. For that purpose, on September 19, 2022, on the sidelines of the 77th United Nations General Assembly, the two institutions signed a collaboration agreement. 

The agreement focuses on connecting all of Africa's health facilities and personnel by 2030, advancing the protection, portability, interoperability, and governance of health data. Smart Africa and Africa CDC will also work with African Union member states to advance digital healthcare. 

“Digital health innovation holds great potential to expand access, increase quality and reduce the cost of health services across the continent,” said Dr. Ahmed Ogwell Ouma (photo, right), acting director of Africa CDC.  

During the coronavirus pandemic, in Africa where access to quality healthcare remains a challenge, digital technologies once again demonstrated their importance.  The ability of those technologies to bring quality care to even remote populations and to help anticipate potential future crises makes digital health a high-value service that is urgently needed to ensure economic and social development on the continent.

Even large financial groups and foreign investors have realized the importance that digital health will play in Africa's next growth cycle. This fact is reflected in the growing volume of financial support the African healthtech has mobilized over the past four years. From US$18 million in 2018, that support rose to US$230 million in 2021, according to investment platform Partech. 

For Lacina Koné (photo, left), Smart Africa's CEO, "the future of healthcare in Africa is digital-first, powered by mobility and a growing population of digital natives who demand to play a more proactive role in their health and care."

Muriel Edjo