Speaking during the Africa Press Day event in Nairobi on March 4, Dr. Oluga said African countries are at a critical crossroads, facing mounting demand for quality healthcare amid constrained financing and shifting global funding patterns.

He noted that breast cancer continues to place immense pressure on health systems across the continent, raising difficult but necessary questions.

“There is high demand to do the right thing,” he said. “But is the system wired to give the needed response? Do we have enough money to tackle all the needs of the people?”

Dr. Oluga further observed that many African countries are investing below recommended thresholds in healthcare, limiting their ability to provide timely screening, diagnosis, and treatment for diseases such as breast cancer. According to global health benchmarks, countries are encouraged to allocate at least 15 percent of their national budgets to health, a target many African nations have struggled to consistently meet.

He emphasized that Africa must rethink how it finances and structures its healthcare systems.

“We must finance our own health systems. The question is are we pursuing value for money or value for life?” he posed.

His remarks come at a time when the continent is experiencing a rise in non-communicable diseases, including breast cancer, which is now among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Africa. Late diagnosis, limited screening programs, high treatment costs, and shortages of specialized personnel continue to hamper effective response.

Dr. Oluga also pointed to the impact of a global shift in health financing, which has affected many African countries that historically relied on donor funding. As international funding models evolve, governments are being forced to reassess sustainability and domestic resource mobilization.

In Kenya, he said, the government is aggressively pursuing the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) agenda as part of broader health sector reforms. Through expanded insurance coverage, primary healthcare strengthening, and increased domestic financing, Kenya aims to improve access to essential services, including cancer care.

Still, he acknowledged that difficult policy and investment decisions lie ahead.

“How do we position an engine that can work within this concept? How do we draw investment?” he asked, underscoring the need for innovative financing models, stronger public-private partnerships, and efficient use of available resources.

Health experts attending the forum echoed his concerns, noting that without deliberate investment in prevention, early detection, and treatment infrastructure, breast cancer will continue to strain fragile systems.

As Africa navigates this turning point, Dr. Oluga’s message was clear: sustainable health financing and system redesign are no longer optional they are essential to saving lives.