Africa’s Place in Global Healthcare: Reflections from the 2024 World Medical Innovation Forum
By Dr. Evelyn Abayaah-Issah
Recently attended the 2024 World Medical Innovation Forum at the Encore Boston Harbor, to say I was surrounded by some of the most renowned minds in global healthcare will be an understatement. The three day forum was filled with palpable energy. Conference attendees were immersed in discussions about scientific breakthroughs, novel treatment pathways, and innovative therapeutic discoveries that will undoubtedly reshape the future of patient care.
From advancements in treating obesity, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer to breakthroughs in mental health disorders and sickle cell disease, the forum was a showcase of the exciting possibilities modern science offers. The World Medical Innovation Forum brings together healthcare leaders from across the globe to explore the latest opportunities and challenges in areas such as investment landscapes, key technology developments, manufacturing, and regulatory barriers. The potential for transforming patient outcomes is astounding.
However, amidst all the cutting-edge discoveries, I couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment. As I scanned the room, I found myself wondering: Where is Africa? Who here represents the scientific innovation centers of my beloved continent? The stark absence of African representation weighed heavily on my mind. It is troubling to witness such monumental discussions taking place while African nations seem left behind in these groundbreaking conversations.
During the conference, I met representatives from several countries who serve as connectors between their nation’s biotech industries and the global innovation hubs. One gentleman I spoke with, representing a European country, shared how his role involves linking the biotech advancements in Boston to his home country. He essentially acts as a bridge for innovation. This made me wonder: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Ghana, or other African nations, had similar roles embedded in these global innovation ecosystems?
Perhaps such roles already exist, but if they do, they are far too few, and the presence of African countries in these critical discussions remains marginal. We, too, have health challenges—malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and emerging non-communicable diseases—that demand attention from the world’s innovators. And yet, sitting here, I feel as though Africa is not fully part of these global scientific exchanges.
The World Medical Innovation Forum has showcased the immense possibilities in healthcare innovation—revolutionary gene therapies for diseases like sickle cell, AI-driven diagnostics for early cancer detection, andprecision medicine tailored to an individual’s genetic makeup. These breakthroughs offer hope for millions of patients worldwide. But for this hope to be truly global, African nations must be part of the conversation.
I ask myself: When will African leaders take the bold steps necessary to ensure that our continent participates in and benefits from these scientific discoveries? Simple steps can be taken—such as fostering stronger connections between African universities, research institutions, and global innovation hubs, and establishing clear roles for representatives in key regions like Boston, where so much healthcare innovation is happening.
There is an urgent need for collaboration and knowledge-sharing between African nations and global scientific communities. Not only will this accelerate the development of local solutions to local health problems, but it will also empower African scientists to contribute to the global body of knowledge in profound ways.
As we look forward to the next decade of healthcare innovation, I hope that future forums will see African scientists and innovators taking their seats at the table, contributing to the scientific debates that will shape our collective future. Only then can we ensure that these groundbreaking discoveries truly have a global impact—one that includes the lives of Africans.
For now, I return home with a heart full of hope and determination. The World Medical Innovation Forum has shown me that while Africa may not yet be fully present in these rooms, we have every opportunity to change that. It’s time for African leaders, innovators, and institutions to rise to the challenge and ensure that we are not left behind in the next wave of scientific discovery.
Dr. Evelyn Abayaah-Issah is a public health expert, Co-Founder, Women in Public Health Leadership, Africa, who attended the 2024 World Medical Innovation Forum in Boston, USA.
