A high-level meeting at GITEX Africa 2026 in Marrakech has brought together key African stakeholders to advance plans for a borderless digital healthcare system across the continent.
The engagement featured the CEO of Smart Africa, Lacina Koné; Founder and Executive Chairman of the Africa Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko; and President of the eHealth Innovation Centre (CleS), Prof. Anass Doukkali. Also present were Hicham El Achgar, Vice President of CleS and board member of APN, as well as senior officials from Smart Africa, including Ralph Oyini and Thelma Quaye.
Discussions centred on the digital infrastructure and policy frameworks required to enable seamless, cross-border healthcare delivery in Africa. A proposed borderless e-health system would allow patients’ medical records to be securely accessed across countries, enable telemedicine without regulatory barriers, support interoperable insurance systems, and ensure continuity of care for individuals travelling within the continent.
Participants noted that Africa already has foundational legal and institutional frameworks to support this vision. These include the African Continental Free Trade Area, which provides a basis for cross-border trade in services, including digital health; the AU Free Movement Protocol, which facilitates the movement of patients and healthcare professionals; and the AfCFTA Digital Trade Protocol, which establishes rules for trusted digital transactions, interoperability, and data flows.
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The AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection was also highlighted as a key safeguard for data privacy and cybersecurity, particularly in handling sensitive medical information.
A major enabler identified was the development of a continent-wide interoperable digital identity system. Through the Smart Africa Trust Alliance initiative, efforts are underway to establish a secure and mutually recognised digital ID framework for African Union member states. This system is expected to support identity verification, enable secure data exchange, and reduce fraud across digital health systems.
The meeting also highlighted the role of the eHealth Innovation Centre (CleS) as Morocco’s national digital health hub. Operating through a multi-stakeholder model, the Centre is advancing digital health through policy advisory, capacity building, innovation support, and ecosystem coordination, with partnerships involving global institutions such as the World Health Organisation, HIMSS, and IHE Catalyst.
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Participants emphasised that while Africa’s integration frameworks are largely in place, accelerated implementation and coordination remain critical. They noted that aligning trade, mobility, digital policy, and identity systems could unlock a fully integrated e-health ecosystem, positioning Africa to deliver accessible, technology-driven healthcare to its population.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
