Resilience: Building the East African Health Economy
Advancing Regional Partnerships, Innovation, and Investment for a Healthier East Africa
The premier regional platform bringing together policymakers, healthcare leaders, investors, innovators, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to shape the future of healthcare across East Africa.
- Meet 2,000+ leadersMinisters, hospital CEOs, investors and buyers - together in one room.
- 14 countries, one floorEast Africa's entire health market under a single roof.
- See 50+ exhibitorsHealth tech, devices and innovations you can explore first-hand.
- Do real businessClose deals, find partners and unlock new investment.
A regional platform at scale
Building the future of the East African health economy
East Africa stands at a pivotal moment in its healthcare journey. With a rapidly growing population, rising healthcare demand, expanding private-sector participation, digital transformation, and growing investment opportunities, the region is uniquely positioned to become one of the world's most dynamic healthcare markets.
Yet significant challenges remain — healthcare financing, infrastructure gaps, workforce shortages, supply-chain vulnerabilities, and unequal access to quality care.
EAHF 2026 will serve as a catalyst for action: bringing leaders together to develop solutions, forge partnerships, and unlock investments that strengthen health systems and drive sustainable economic growth.
The 2026 Conference explores how resilience can serve as the foundation for healthcare transformation — strengthening regional collaboration, accelerating innovation, mobilizing investment, and fostering sustainable healthcare systems.
It focuses on creating practical pathways for countries and stakeholders to work together in building a healthier, more prosperous, and more resilient East Africa.
Why East Africa. Why Healthcare. Why Now.
Two forces are converging in East Africa - a vast, youthful, fast-growing market, and an urgent continental mandate to build health sovereignty. Together they create one of the most compelling investment opportunities of the decade.
Sixteen federations. One of the youngest, fastest-growing markets on earth.
The EAHF member federations together represent more than 585 million people - a market larger than the European Union and expanding faster than almost any other region on the continent. With a median age under 20 and nearly two-thirds of the population below 30, the region holds one of the world's largest emerging consumer and workforce bases. Several member economies have sustained 5–7% annual growth, fuelling rapid urbanisation, a widening middle class, and surging demand for quality care. Health spending, private-hospital investment, and insurance coverage are all rising, while digital health leapfrogs legacy infrastructure. Today, patients spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year seeking advanced treatment abroad - in India, the Gulf, and South Africa - value the region can recapture by building cross-border centres of excellence in cardiac, oncology, and specialist care.
Health sovereignty is national sovereignty.
A nation that cannot make its own medicines cannot fully secure its people. Africa still imports about 99% of its vaccines and 70–90% of its medicines and medical devices - a dependency the pandemic and recent contractions in donor funding exposed as a strategic risk. Health is a core function of the state and the foundation of the social contract: productive economies are built on healthy populations. Local production of medicines, vaccines, and devices turns that vulnerability into security - and into industry; the African Union targets 60% local vaccine manufacturing by 2040, anchoring a health-products market already worth over US$50 billion a year. Health is no longer a cost centre but an engine of jobs, value addition, and growth. Realising it calls for new capital - blended finance, public-private partnerships, and DFI-backed instruments - and for the innovation, harmonised regulation, and regional integration that turn fragmented national markets into one competitive value chain under AfCFTA.
A young, growing market meets an urgent mandate for health sovereignty - and a once-in-a-generation window to invest. EAHF 2026 is where that capital, policy, and partnership meet.
Four pillars of action
Excellence in Health Service Delivery
Advancing quality healthcare services through innovation, technology adoption, patient-centred care, and health system strengthening.
Local Manufacturing & Supply Security
Strengthening regional production capacity for medicines, vaccines, diagnostics, medical devices, and essential healthcare commodities.
Investment & Health Financing
Mobilizing capital, expanding healthcare investment opportunities, and strengthening sustainable financing mechanisms.
Regional Integration & Trade
Promoting cross-border collaboration, regional healthcare markets, and stronger health value chains under regional integration frameworks.
The leaders shaping healthcare in East Africa
Invitations have also been extended to senior global health leaders and distinguished regional dignitaries.
More than a conference
High-Level Ministerial Dialogue
Exclusive discussions focused on regional healthcare priorities, policy harmonization, and collaborative action.
Strategic Conference Sessions
Thought-provoking discussions featuring healthcare leaders, investors, policymakers, innovators, and development partners.
Regional Healthcare Exhibition
A showcase of healthcare technologies, services, products, innovations, and investment opportunities from across Africa and beyond.
Welcome Reception
An evening of networking and cultural hospitality hosted at Yod Abyssinia, bringing together delegates in an engaging and informal setting.
Gala Dinner
A prestigious networking event celebrating collaboration, innovation, and leadership within the East African healthcare ecosystem.
Where East Africa's health leaders convene
Voices on the programme
On the expo floor
The organizing committee
Everything you need to plan your trip
Frequently asked questions
Most visitors can apply for an Ethiopian e-Visa online before travelling, through the official e-Visa portal. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months from your date of entry.
Fly into Addis Ababa Bole International Airport (ADD), a major African hub served by Ethiopian Airlines with direct connections across Africa, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Addis Ababa offers a wide range of international and boutique hotels within easy reach of the venue. A preferred conference hotel block and rates will be shared closer to the event.
Registrations are issued per delegate. If you need to transfer yours, please contact the organising team and we will be glad to help.
EAHF 2026 is designed as an in-person experience in Addis Ababa. For any questions about remote participation, please contact the organisers.
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr (ETB). Major hotels and venues accept cards; it is worth carrying some cash for taxis and smaller vendors.
Shaping the future of healthcare in East Africa
EAHF 2026 is more than a conference — it is a platform for action. Where partnerships are formed, investments are mobilized, innovations are showcased, and solutions are developed to strengthen healthcare systems across the region.
Register. Partner. Exhibit. Lead.
August 21–23, 2026 · Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, Addis Ababa