By Alvin Nahabwe from Makerere University Centre for Artificial Intelligence with contributions from Christine Ger Ochola, APHRC
Africa’s healthcare landscape is one of striking contrasts. According to the Africa-Europe Foundation (2006), the continent carries 24% of the global disease burden while accounting for only 3% of the world’s health workforce and less than 1% of global health expenditure. Further, Africa faces a vast “double burden” of disease, battling persistent communicable illnesses like malaria and HIV while simultaneously confronting a rapidly growing wave of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes and hypertension.
NCDs are projected to become the leading cause of death by 2030, yet primary care systems, historically geared towards infectious diseases, remain poorly prepared. Maternal and child health also remain in crisis, with Africa accounting for the majority of global maternal deaths. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a woman’s lifetime risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications stands at 1 in 39, compared to 1 in 4,700 in high-income countries. These statistics reveal deeper systematic flaws such as chronic underfunding, severe health worker shortages, and inadequate infrastructure, with many clinics having no reliable power or internet. This imbalance has created a crisis of access and quality, but it has also sparked a wave of innovation.
Across the continent, a new generation of entrepreneurs is harnessing technology to address deep-rooted health challenges. From drones delivering life-saving blood supplies to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered diagnostics in remote clinics, a vibrant healthtech sector is emerging. The central question is whether this digital revolution is truly meeting Africa’s most urgent health needs, and what it will take to bring these innovations into the mainstream.
It is in this environment of urgent need that healthtech is finding its place through innovators who are not only building apps but are also rethinking how care is delivered. Telemedicine, for instance, is bridging distances and easing specialist shortages, with companies like Kenya’s Zuri Health and Cameroon’s Waspito using both sophisticated apps and simple messaging tools to connect patients and doctors. In Rwanda, the government’s partnership with the digital health company Babyl has led to the integration of virtual consultations into the national health insurance scheme. This initiative serves as an example of successful public-private collaboration, demonstrating how technology can be used to provide healthcare at scale.
Supply chain innovation is also proving transformative. Africa imports up to 90% of its pharmaceuticals, leaving systems vulnerable to stockouts and counterfeit drugs. Companies like Zipline are using drone deliveries in Rwanda and Ghana to get blood and vaccines to remote clinics quickly, bypassing poor roads. In Nigeria, platforms such as Remedial Health and DrugStoc are directly connecting thousands of pharmacies and hospitals to reliable suppliers, which improves both access and quality.
Diagnostics represents a promising frontier in healthtech. That over 500 million Africans lack access to basic blood tests creates a profound barrier to managing chronic diseases. In response, Kenya’s Ilara Health is empowering local clinics by leasing them artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled diagnostic tools. This initiative provides community-level access to essential services like blood analysis and ultrasound, a critical step that not only builds local capacity but also leads to the earlier detection of life-threatening conditions.
Despite these advances, funding often flows toward areas that are commercially viable rather than those of greatest public health need. Telemedicine and logistics attract significant investment because their business models scale easily. By contrast, tackling NCDs or improving maternal health requires long-term, integrated approaches that are harder to monetize. This misalignment means that while innovation thrives, it does not always target the heaviest disease burdens.
When these innovations and public health align, the results can be powerful. For example, Zipline’s rapid drone delivery of blood has directly reduced maternal deaths from postpartum hemorrhage. Similarly, Ilara Health’s diagnostic services are addressing the testing gap that is fueling the NCD crisis. Meanwhile, mPharma in Ghana has combined supply chain solutions with financing options for chronic medication, thereby improving both affordability and access.
The path forward requires a more unified ecosystem. Africa’s fragmented regulatory landscape makes it hard for startups to scale across borders, while the digital divide limits the reach of even the best solutions. Initiatives by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to create a single digital health market are a game-changer. By harmonizing regulations and data systems, they can transform the landscape. The Africa HealthTech Marketplace, for example, is already building trust between governments and innovators, which makes it easier for locally developed solutions to gain credibility and be adopted.
For real change to happen, a new mindset is required; investors must prioritize long-term, system-wide impact over quick profits. Policymakers need to embed technology directly into national health plans and create an enabling environment for innovation. Entrepreneurs must design solutions specifically for Africa’s unique realities, making them affordable, scalable, and resilient in low-resource settings. Technology alone cannot solve Africa’s healthcare crisis, but when aligned with policy, investment, and community needs, it can be a powerful catalyst for building stronger, more equitable health systems.
