Addis Ababa, November 6, 2025 (FMC) — The Pan African Surgical Healthcare Forum opened in Addis Ababa yesterday, bringing together health experts, educators, and policymakers from across the continent to explore sustainable pathways for advancing surgical healthcare in Africa.
Held under the theme “From National Surgical Healthcare Policy to Practice — Expanding Africa’s Multidisciplinary Surgical Workforce: What Works in Africa?”, the three-day forum focuses on innovations, financing, and strategic partnerships to build a robust and equitable surgical workforce.
Dr. Elubabor Buno, Lead Executive Officer for Medical Services at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, said that integrating advanced technologies and research into healthcare systems is key to improving service delivery and patient outcomes across the continent.
“This forum provides an essential platform for professionals to exchange experiences and best practices that can elevate the quality of healthcare throughout Africa,” he said, emphasizing the importance of expanding access to essential medicines and medical supplies, especially in underserved regions.
Dr. Elubabor added that one of the forum’s major goals is to develop a comprehensive health education curriculum adaptable to institutions across Africa, enabling long-term improvements in surgical care and workforce development.
Forum Chair, Professor Abebe Bekele, noted the participation of representatives from 43 African countries, including senior health officials. He described the gathering as a vital step toward regional collaboration in addressing shared challenges.
Professor Abebe highlighted persistent gaps such as shortages of skilled professionals, disparities in training quality, and uneven workforce distribution. He called for African-led solutions to these systemic issues, urging countries to rely on their own expertise rather than external donors.
“Sustainable progress will only come when Africa leads its own transformation,” he underscored, advocating for context-specific strategies that reflect the continent’s realities and promote lasting resilience in health systems.
Aligned with Universal Health Coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3, the Pan African Surgical Healthcare Forum aims to strengthen Africa’s surgical healthcare systems through improved training, retention, and equitable workforce distribution — ensuring quality surgical services for all.