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East African health experts are pushing for more predictable and innovative investment in healthcare as the region seeks to strengthen health security and reduce reliance on external support.
The call emerged on Monday, August 17, 2026, during an emergency meeting of the East African Community Regional Technical Advisory Committee on Health (ReTAC), chaired by Tanzania’s Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary, Dr Grace Magembe.
The meeting in Dar es Salaam is preparing technical recommendations for the East African Community Health Ministers’ Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, August 18.
A key focus of the deliberations is how member states can secure sustainable financing for maternal and child health services and primary healthcare, areas considered critical to improving health outcomes at community level.
The experts are expected to propose financing approaches that are not only sustainable but also predictable and innovative, allowing governments to plan and implement health programmes without major disruptions caused by funding uncertainties.
The discussions come as African countries seek to strengthen their own health systems and improve preparedness for public health emergencies while reducing dependence on external financing and supplies.
For East Africa, stronger primary healthcare systems are also seen as essential to expanding access to basic services, particularly for women and children, while ensuring that communities can receive care closer to where they live.
The recommendations from ReTAC will feed into discussions by regional health ministers, who are expected to consider measures for strengthening health cooperation and advancing the bloc’s health priorities.
The Dar es Salaam meeting therefore provides a platform for technical experts to translate regional health priorities into practical recommendations on financing, service delivery and health-system resilience.
The emphasis on domestic and innovative financing also reflects the wider need for African countries to build health systems capable of sustaining essential services beyond individual projects or donor-supported programmes.
