The G7 summit cannot achieve its mandate acting as an exclusive gathering historically dominated by a few countries; instead, it needs to open itself to a changing world
reinventing their role, traditional donors including Canada, Japan and Europe must now develop a position towards genuine partnership that entails co-defined activ- ities and mechanisms. The relationship should also be driven by a transparent deliberation of the objectives, benefits and contributions for all parties involved. Only then, will the interaction be effective and sustainable, with collaborations to be expanded. During the Nairobi meeting, local manufacturing of medical goods was dis- cussed as one of the main strategic avenues towards Africa’s health sover- eignty. Europe could serve as an enabler by offering support where it is still needed and, in turn, benefit from stronger trade partnerships on an equal footing. However, structural rigidity and out- dated concepts still hinder Europe and the EU from playing a more active role, and at times they even act as roadblocks. We need to consider pricing, intellectual prop- erty rights, logistics, local regulations and security concerns to reach those new and mutually beneficial partnerships. This includes both the distribution of essential medicines and the development of local manufacturing ecosystems. AFRICA’S SELF-DETERMINED HEALTH FUTURE During the WHS Regional Meeting in Nairobi, speakers and participants repeat-
1. Opening ceremony for the World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, UN Web TV. Accessed May 11, 2026. https://webtv. un.org/en/asset/k11/k11e29496x, 2. WHS Academic Alliance. Accessed May 11, 2026. https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/ about/whs-academic-alliance, 3. World Health Summit Regional Meeting 2026, The Aga Khan University. Accessed May 11, 2026. https://www.aku.edu/mcea/Pages/whs.aspx, 4. Jamison DT, Summers LH, Chang AY, et al. Global health 2050: the path to halving premature death by mid-century. The Lancet. 2024;404(10462):1561-1614. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01439-9 5.Pries AR, Schicker C, Kickbusch I, Fislage M. Think Global, Fund Global. (11)., 6. Kaseya J. Africa’s Health Security and Sovereignty agenda: a new way forward. The Lancet. 2025;406(10518):2394-2396. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(25)02315-3 7.President Mahama & Global Leaders Launch the Accra Reset at UNGA 2025. - The Presidency, Republic of Ghana. Accessed May 11, 2026. https://presidency.gov.gh/president-mahama-global- leaders-launch-the-accra-reset-at-unga-2025/ edly stated that Africa’s healthcare systems were originally designed by colo- nial powers. Their administrations were under the assumption that local health care should deliver low-cost medicine to a population which was purportedly unable to contribute its own share. The inade- quacy of this approach is obvious. In the current environment, critical steps towards sustainable health systems are being taken, including the replacement of out-of-pocket financing by universal health insurance coverage based on appropriate budgeting concepts. These developments are reflected, for instance, by the strategy for health sover- eignty that Africa CDC has presented and the Accra Reset, spearheaded by the Pres- ident of Ghana John Mahama. 6,7 To allow alignment of healthcare systems with Africa’s self-defined needs, timely and important efforts to restructure health care across the continent deserve full sup- port by the G7 and development banks. The optimism and determination inspir- ing the WHS Regional Meeting in Nairobi can hopefully be carried forward in the months ahead, to Évian-les-Bains and the G7 leaders.
© The Aga Khan University Nairobi.
High-Level Ministerial Committee on Global Health Architecture Reform. Kenya and WHO AFRO have also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding local pharmaceutical and health product man- ufacturing. Both local and global solutions are needed to meet this target. 5 REDEFINING PARTNERSHIPS FOR HEALTH SOVEREIGNTY While many African countries are already
// AXEL RADLACH PRIES Axel Radlach Pries became president of the World Health Summit in 2021. He was the dean of Charité from 2015 to 2022, having been head of the Charité Institute for Physiology from 2001. He has chaired the Council for Basic Cardiovascular Science and the Congress Programme Committee basic section in the European Society of Cardiology, was president of the Biomedical Alliance in Europe and CEO of the Berlin Institute of Health. He has received the Malpighi Award, the Poiseuille Gold Medal and the Silver Medal of the European Society of Cardiology.
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