President John Dramani Mahama has called for urgent reforms to the global health system, urging world leaders and health stakeholders to move beyond endless discussions. and focus on practical solutions to improve healthcare delivery, especially in developing countries.
Speaking at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland, President Mahama noted that the current global health structure is no longer adequately serving vulnerable populations and must be redesigned to promote fairness, sustainability, and stronger partnerships.
He outlined three key appeals to the international health community. First, he urged leaders not to treat reform as a limit but as an opportunity for deeper change, stressing the need to critically examine institutional structures and mandates without hesitation.
Secondly, President Mahama emphasized the importance of implementation over repeated declarations, saying the world needs more action in the form of local manufacturing, resilient supply chains, and strategic partnerships rather than more policy statements.
He further stated that the true measure of success in global healthcare should not be the number of conferences held, but the actual quality of care accessible to ordinary people.
According to him, global progress should be judged by whether children in developing countries have the same chance of survival as those in wealthier nations.
President Mahama described the old global health order as outdated and ineffective, adding that a new system must emerge. One built on partnership, shared responsibility, and self-reliance rather than dependence on aid.
Highlighting the realities faced by families in poorer regions, he referenced mothers in the Global South who continue to give birth under poor healthcare conditions, underscoring the urgency of meaningful reform.
He concluded with an African proverb, reminding leaders that while the reforms being discussed may benefit future generations more than the present one, decisive action today will shape a stronger and fairer global health system for tomorrow.
