East Africa's health ministers move to buy medicines together and make more at home
All eight EAC states are now on a joint procurement platform, and the region is building centres of excellence and a network of mobile labs.
Arusha — East African Community health ministers have pushed ahead with plans to buy medicines together, share outbreak information in real time and build up regional health expertise, the EAC said after their 26th meeting in Arusha ended on 6 October.
Buying together
All eight EAC member states have now joined and been trained on the EAC Pooled Procurement Mechanism, which is meant to improve access to medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, support regional production and reduce reliance on supply chains outside the region. "Health sovereignty is critical for the region and Africa as a whole," said the council's chair, Dr Ayume Charles of Uganda, calling for investment in local manufacturing.
Sharing information
The ministers backed a regional information-sharing platform for pandemic and epidemic intelligence and a tracking mechanism, with a dashboard, to make sure regional decisions are carried out.
Building expertise
- The EAC's mobile laboratory network, now 10 labs in seven countries at places such as Beni, Busia, Nimule-Elegu, Kobero and Bwera, will grow to 34 by the end of 2027.
- Ministers reviewed the EAC's Regional Centres of Excellence for medical education, specialised care and research, considered a proposed centre for climate change and health in South Sudan, and discussed funding for new centres for transplant and blood sciences and for oral health in Tanzania.
Secretary General Ambassador Stephen Mbundi urged sustained investment in surveillance, health workers and regional production of medicines and vaccines.
Source: East African Community, 8 October 2026.
