UK-Africa Health Summit 2025 Thematic Papers
Introducing the UK-Africa Health Summit 2025 Thematic Paper Series
The UK-Africa Health Summit brought together key stakeholders – from NHS workers to UK and African Policymakers, diaspora networks and WHO – to address urgent global health priorities and explore the evolving role of the UK in international cooperation.
This new series captures the rich discussions and diverse voices from the Summit, sharing insights and actionable recommendations with the global health community to address the most pressing health challenges of our time.
Improving Interventions for Effective Antimicrobial Stewardship Following the High-Level Meeting on AMR
With AMR projected to cause nearly 2 million deaths a year by 2050 — and Sub-Saharan Africa set to bear the greatest burden — urgent, coordinated action is needed to safeguard the effectiveness of life-saving medicines.
Our first paper captures discussions held at the Summit, in which health leaders, senior ministry officials, pharmacists, and frontline professionals explored how to embed antimicrobial stewardship within broader health systems strengthening, ensuring sustainable, locally led solutions.
Improving Understanding of the Contributions of Diaspora to the Advancement of Health in Countries of Heritage.
Rooted in the leadership and lived experience of diaspora NHS staff of African heritage, the Summit highlighted how diaspora health workers are vital bridges between the UK and health systems across Africa.
Our second paper underscores the importance of supporting the diaspora health workforce to contribute to health systems strengthening and advocacy in Global Health. The paper outlines recommendations to leverage their expertise to shape policy, strengthen health services, and drive change both in countries of destination and of heritage.
Unpacking the challenges of workforce in the context of the 2025 High-Level meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases
Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are now the leading cause of death worldwide — responsible for over 70% of global deaths. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the burden is rapidly increasing, placing immense pressure on a health workforce already facing critical shortages.
This paper explores the challenges faced by the NCD health workforce, highlights successful partnerships across the UK and Africa, and shares strategic priorities ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs.
Understanding the contribution and impact of the Global Health Workforce Programme towards strengthening the health workforce
As we approach the conclusion of Phase 1 of the Global Health Workforce Programme in Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria, and the launch of the new phase in Somaliland, Ethiopia and Malawi, the purpose of this theme was to create a platform for Health Partnerships (HPs) to share learning and good practice, discuss research findings, and disseminate information about this programme to important stakeholders.
Health workforce
Health Workforce report reviews the critical role of diaspora health professionals in connecting the UK and African health systems, focusing on ethical international recruitment and strengthening health workforces. The Summit advanced the dialogue on reviewing the WHO Global Code of Practice on International Recruitment of Health Personnel, explored evidence from multilateral research, and highlighted best practices and remaining barriers in maximising diaspora contributions.
We’ll be releasing these papers over the next fortnight, covering the key thematic areas that came out of the Summit. Watch this space for the next paper…
