A new era in the African market for diagnostics: capturing health and economic benefits

Diagnostics play a crucial role in improving global health by enabling early disease detection, effective treatment, and prevention of drug resistance. The call for African countries to build their own capacity for diagnostic, drug and vaccine production is a vital step toward improving healthcare outcomes and fostering self-reliance. It involves addressing longstanding structural issues, building trust, and interventions to strengthen health systems across the continent. A continued reliance on other countries for health products is unsustainable and places African countries at risk, as seen during the COVID-19 response. Understanding optimal distribution channels and the market landscape of diagnostics is critical for longer-term control and surveillance strategies and pandemic preparedness. Unequal and inappropriate access to diagnostics poses individual and population level risks. Working alongside community members, diagnostic manufacturers, leading researchers and policy makers, the aim of this research is to provide evidence on the cost and benefits to health and finances when there is increase in access to diagnostics, both new and old. This research will focus on the African Region, with particular emphasis on Ethiopia, Senegal and South Africa. Three countries at different stages of domestic production of diagnostics and ensuring those in need have access to priority diagnostics.