EALA passes motion to accelerate UHC implementation across EAC region

RWANDA— The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) has passed a motion urging the East African Community (EAC) Council of Ministers and Partner States to accelerate efforts toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC) across the region.

The motion, passed on October 7, was introduced by Fatuma Ndangiza, an EALA MP from Rwanda, and seconded by Kanini Kega from Kenya.

It calls for ensuring that no citizen is left without access to affordable and quality medical care.

This initiative is grounded in Article 118 of the EAC Treaty, which commits Partner States to collaborate on healthcare systems, harmonise health policies, and support research and training.

UHC aims to guarantee that all individuals can receive the health services they need—including prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care—without suffering financial hardship.

This aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal target 3.8, which seeks to achieve UHC globally by 2030.

Ndangiza emphasized that the motion urges governments to fast-track UHC implementation so every citizen, regardless of status, can access efficient and affordable healthcare.

 She noted that access to medical insurance—such as community-based, private, and social health insurance schemes—is vital for financial protection and enhancing health service coverage.

Highlighting the connection between health and economic prosperity, Ndangiza described improved health systems as a key driver for poverty reduction and inclusive growth in the region.

 However, she pointed out that the EAC faces challenges similar to other African regions, such as insufficient health funding, inadequate infrastructure, shortages of trained professionals, and fragmented healthcare systems.

The motion recalls the Abuja Declaration of 2001, where African countries pledged to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health.

Despite this, many Partner States have yet to achieve this target. Globally, approximately 100 million people fall into poverty each year due to out-of-pocket health expenses, while around 30% of African households resort to borrowing or selling assets to cover healthcare costs.

Furthermore, high rates of child and maternal mortality persist, alongside widespread malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa.

Research indicates no African country is on track to eliminate childhood malnutrition by 2030.

Additionally, most health systems struggle to handle epidemics and the rising burden of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cancer.

The motion also acknowledges ongoing regional efforts supporting UHC, including the EAC Vision 2050, the EAC Open Health Initiative for policy harmonisation, and the EAC Health Research Commission, which coordinates regional research and service delivery.

 Notable progress in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania is recognized, with Rwanda leading in health insurance coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa.

By adopting the motion, the Assembly calls on Partner States to increase budget allocations toward health, harmonise policies, and strengthen regional cooperation to improve healthcare access and quality throughout the East African Community.

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