SADC health ministers meet in Durban on local medicine making, El Niño and HIV funding
With South Africa chairing the bloc, ministers will discuss pooled buying of medicines, regional manufacturing and readiness for outbreaks such as Ebola in DR Congo.
Durban — Health ministers and ministers responsible for HIV/AIDS from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) begin a joint meeting in Durban on Monday, with South Africa chairing the regional bloc this year.
According to SAnews, the meeting aims to turn regional commitments into concrete action.
Making medicines in the region
Ministers will look at how to build a regional manufacturing base for vaccines, medicines and diagnostics, through technology transfer and steady markets, to reduce dependence on outside suppliers. They will also work on setting up the SADC Pharmaceutical Pooled Procurement Services, so that member states can use their combined buying power to get better prices and more reliable supply, and give regional manufacturers predictable demand.
Outbreaks and climate
On health security, the agenda covers early warning, disease surveillance and coordinated cross-border responses, with particular attention to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ministers will also prepare for the El Niño expected in 2026-27, which is likely to worsen food insecurity, malnutrition and water shortages.
Paying for health
With development aid declining, ministers will discuss how to protect essential programmes, including HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, through regional health financing. They will review progress towards the 95-95-95 HIV targets and on malaria control and elimination.
Source: SAnews, November 2026.
