Addis Ababa to Host East Africa’s Major Healthcare Confrence

Addis Ababa, August 14 2026 (ENA) — Addis Ababa will host the 13th East Africa Health Federations Conference and International Exhibition from August 21 to 23, bringing together health federations from 14 East African countries, the Ministry of Health announced.

The conference will be held under the theme “Resilience: Building the East African Health Economy.”

According to the Ministry, preparations for the conference are underway, with organizers and stakeholders holding discussions with Ministry of Health leadership on the preparations, expected outcomes, and participation of the event.

The 13th conference will feature side discussions focusing on building the East African health economy, strengthening domestic production, and advancing technology and innovation in the health sector, the Ministry said.

The conference’s official website indicates that the gathering will bring together more than 2,000 healthcare leaders and stakeholders, including policymakers, hospital executives, investors, innovators, development partners and private-sector representatives.

The three-day event is expected to feature more than 100 speakers and over 30 sessions, alongside an international exhibition showcasing healthcare technologies, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, healthcare services and investment opportunities.

The conference comes at a time when East Africa’s healthcare sector is experiencing growing demand amid population growth, urbanization, expanding private-sector participation and rapid digital transformation.

According to information published by the conference organizers, the member federations of the East African Health Federation collectively represent more than 585 million people, making the region a major and rapidly expanding healthcare market.

The conference will explore opportunities to strengthen healthcare investment and financing, local manufacturing and supply security, including the production and availability of medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices.

It will also examine ways of strengthening regional integration and trade while building more resilient healthcare systems across East Africa.

A high-level ministerial dialogue is expected to address regional healthcare priorities, policy harmonization and coordinated action, while discussions will also explore the role of innovation and digital health in addressing persistent gaps in healthcare delivery.

The organizers further indicate that the region has significant potential to retain healthcare expenditure currently flowing outside Africa by developing cross-border centers of excellence in specialized areas such as cardiac care, oncology and other advanced medical services.

The conference and exhibition are therefore expected to provide a platform for forging partnerships, mobilizing investment and advancing solutions aimed at strengthening East Africa’s health systems and expanding the region’s emerging health economy.