By Business Insider Correspondent, Arusha
The East African Community (EAC) is accelerating plans for joint procurement of medicines, vaccines and other essential medical supplies as part of a broader strategy to strengthen regional health security, stimulate local pharmaceutical manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported healthcare products.
The initiative, which brings together all eight EAC Partner States, is expected to create opportunities for regional pharmaceutical manufacturers, improve access to essential medical products and strengthen East Africa’s resilience against future health emergencies.
The measures were among key decisions discussed during the 26th Ordinary Meeting of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health, which concluded in Arusha on October 6, 2026.
According to a statement issued by the EAC Secretariat on October 8, all eight Partner States have been onboarded and trained to use the digital information-sharing platform supporting the EAC Pooled Procurement Mechanism.
The mechanism is designed to enable member countries to coordinate the procurement of medicines, vaccines, diagnostic equipment and other essential health commodities, potentially creating economies of scale and improving supply chain efficiency.
For the region’s healthcare industry, the initiative could provide a more predictable market for locally manufactured medical products, encouraging investment in pharmaceutical production, medical technologies and related industries.
Joint procurement could also strengthen the negotiating position of participating countries, helping them secure more competitive prices and reduce procurement costs, although the extent of these benefits will depend on implementation.
The development comes as East African countries seek to strengthen healthcare systems while confronting the economic and social consequences of infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola, Marburg and Mpox.
Addressing the ministerial meeting, the Chairperson of the EAC Sectoral Council of Ministers of Health, Uganda’s Dr Ayume Charles, stressed the importance of investing in domestic pharmaceutical production.
“Health sovereignty is critical for the region and Africa as a whole. We must give greater attention to and invest in local manufacturing capacity across the continent to strengthen our ability to produce essential health products and reduce our dependence on external supply chains,” he said.
His remarks reflect growing recognition that healthcare security is not merely a public health concern but also an economic and industrial development priority.
Greater regional production of medicines, vaccines and diagnostic products could support industrialisation, create skilled employment and reduce exposure to disruptions in international supply chains.
Digital health and epidemic intelligence
Beyond pharmaceutical procurement, the EAC is advancing digital health infrastructure to improve disease surveillance, information sharing and coordination among Partner States.
Ministers reviewed progress on the EAC Regional Information Sharing Platform for Pandemic and Epidemic Intelligence, which is expected to facilitate real-time exchange of health information and strengthen evidence-based decision-making.
The platform is intended to improve early detection of emerging health threats and enable countries to coordinate responses before outbreaks spread across borders.
The Council also called for stronger implementation of the EAC Health Decisions and Directives Tracking Mechanism, including regular reviews and the introduction of a Decision Implementation Dashboard.
The dashboard is expected to improve accountability by tracking progress on regional health commitments and identifying implementation gaps.
For businesses operating across East Africa, stronger disease surveillance and coordinated emergency responses could help minimise disruptions to cross-border trade, transport, tourism and labour mobility.
EAC Secretary General Amb. Stephen Mbundi warned that recurring disease outbreaks had exposed vulnerabilities in regional healthcare systems and demonstrated the wider economic consequences of public health emergencies.
“We must sustain investment in surveillance, information sharing, rapid detection and coordinated response and health workforce capacity,” he said.
He also urged Partner States to strengthen regional manufacturing of essential medicines, vaccines and other health products to reduce reliance on external suppliers.
Mobile laboratories to expand
In another significant development, the EAC plans to more than triple its regional mobile laboratory network, expanding from the current 10 laboratories to 34 by the end of 2027.
The existing laboratories operate across seven Partner States and provide rapid diagnostic services at strategic locations, including border crossings and areas vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
Among the locations are Beni, Busia, Nimule-Elegu, Kobero and Bwera.
The laboratories have supported regional responses to Ebola, Marburg, COVID-19 and Mpox, strengthening the ability of health authorities to identify outbreaks and initiate containment measures.
Expanding the network will require additional investment in diagnostic technologies, laboratory equipment, logistics, maintenance and specialised healthcare personnel.
The programme could therefore create opportunities for companies supplying medical equipment, diagnostic products and laboratory support services.
The EAC Secretariat said regional preparedness efforts also include the provision of personal protective equipment, training of frontline healthcare workers and deployment of specialists to support emergency responses.
Tanzania’s specialised healthcare ambitions
The meeting also highlighted Tanzania’s growing role in the development of specialised healthcare services within the regional integration framework.
Ministers discussed resource mobilisation for two newly established Regional Centres of Excellence in Tanzania, focusing on Transplant and Haematological Sciences and Oral Health Sciences.
These institutions are expected to contribute to specialist medical training, research and advanced healthcare delivery, potentially strengthening Tanzania’s position as a destination for specialised medical services.
Their development could also support the country’s ambitions to expand medical tourism, retain healthcare spending that would otherwise flow abroad and attract patients from neighbouring countries.
However, realising these opportunities will require sustained investment in medical infrastructure, specialist personnel, modern equipment and affordable access to advanced treatment.
The Council also considered a proposed EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Climate Change and Health, to be hosted by South Sudan.
The proposed centre reflects growing concern over the impact of climate change on public health, including changing disease patterns and other climate-related health risks.
Ministers emphasised the need for sustainable financing, greater participation by Partner States and stronger resource mobilisation to support the existing and proposed centres.
The meeting further called for coordinated regional action against communicable and non-communicable diseases, antimicrobial resistance and emerging public health threats, alongside efforts to improve maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health and advance Universal Health Coverage.
Healthcare as an economic priority
The EAC’s latest initiatives underline the increasingly close relationship between public health security and economic integration.
Disease outbreaks can disrupt trade corridors, discourage tourism, interrupt business operations and place additional pressure on national budgets.
Conversely, investment in stronger healthcare systems can support economic productivity while opening opportunities in pharmaceuticals, medical equipment manufacturing, digital health and specialised healthcare services.
For East Africa, the challenge now lies in translating regional agreements into operational programmes that deliver measurable improvements in healthcare access, supply chain resilience and emergency preparedness.
The success of the pooled procurement initiative, in particular, will depend on effective coordination among Partner States, reliable financing, transparent procurement arrangements and the capacity of regional manufacturers to meet demand and quality requirements.
The EAC’s proposed expansion of diagnostic infrastructure and specialised healthcare institutions will similarly require sustained financial commitments.
With eight Partner States participating in the procurement mechanism and plans to expand the mobile laboratory network by 2027, the region is laying the groundwork for a more integrated healthcare market. Whether that translates into lower medical costs, increased local production and stronger health security will depend on how quickly the agreed measures move from policy commitments to implementation.
