Brazzaville — The World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region and the African Union Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) are strengthening collaboration to improve how African countries measure health spending and monitor financial protection. By enhancing the quality of health data, the partnership aims to help governments make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and advance toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
A key focus of the collaboration is building capacity to compile and interpret National Health Accounts (NHA) using the System of Health Accounts (SHA 2011) framework. This global standard provides a clear picture of health spending, enabling countries to design more responsive, people-centred health systems. In September 2024, a three-day workshop in Accra, Ghana, brought together representatives from 18 Anglophone countries to harmonize health expenditure reporting and improve coordination between national statistical offices and ministries of health. Participants discussed global trends, shared country experiences, and explored ways to strengthen institutional collaboration for more consistent data collection and analysis.
Following the Accra workshop, a sub-regional training was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 14 to 17 October 2025. Co-organized with the World Bank, the workshop involved experts from 25 francophone countries and focused on monitoring financial protection in health. Participants analyzed household survey data using STATA software to identify when health costs create barriers to care. Discussions highlighted how disaggregated and comparable data can help policymakers understand which populations are most at risk and implement measures to reduce financial hardship.
The initiative will continue in 2026 with additional workshops for both francophone and anglophone countries, supporting the translation of stronger data into effective health policies. This effort aligns with the African Union’s Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2), Agenda 2063, and SDG 3.8 on UHC and financial protection. By equipping countries with the tools to generate reliable and comparable statistics, the collaboration fosters evidence-based decision-making, increases domestic investment in health, and strengthens accountability, ultimately improving people’s access to quality care and financial protection.
