Comparative study: mapping treatment costs, best practices, and challenges across Africa

TL;DR

This study compares the costs and challenges of treating major diseases in Africa to improve healthcare access and affordability through shared best practices.

Contribution

The paper introduces a comparative analysis of treatment costs and healthcare challenges for specific diseases across African countries to inform policy and practice.

Findings

Liver cancer, lung cancer, CAD, and stroke treatment costs vary significantly across African countries.

Diagnostic and treatment pathway inefficiencies are major contributors to healthcare cost disparities.

Standardized strategies can reduce costs and improve health outcomes by addressing delivery and resource gaps.

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the Siemens Healthineers SHIFT Innovation Pan-Africa Capacity Building Program, which aims to improve access and affordability of healthcare across Africa through knowledge sharing and the transfer of best practices. The study focuses on comparing the cost of treating liver cancer, lung cancer, coronary artery disease (CAD), and stroke in different African countries. These conditions represent a major and growing share of the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden across the African continent. They are also strategic focus areas for Siemens Healthineers due to their high clinical impact, complex diagnostic requirements, and the significant health system resources needed for effective management. These diseases serve as suitable proxies for assessing broader access challenges because they require timely detection, advanced imaging, laboratory diagnostics, specialized treatment pathways, and long-term follow-up care. Any gaps in diagnostic capacity, equipment availability, clinical workflow efficiency, workforce skills, or financing structures become immediately visible along these patient pathways. Comparing the differences with the best practices and challenges of each country, the programme aims to facilitate cross-cultural learning to bridge the gap between high- and low-value treatments. The study draws on detailed data on medical expenditure in several African countries, including public and private health services. Cost differences are analyzed taking into account medical procedures, drugs, diagnostic tests and hospital costs. In addition, the factors contributing to these cost variations, including healthcare delivery, resource availability, regulatory framework, and socio-economic factors, examined to develop standardized strategies to reduce medical costs and improve overall health outcomes. The results of this study will be a valuable resource for policy makers, healthcare providers and stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and take targeted actions. Ultimately, the aim is to improve access, affordability and quality of healthcare across Africa and ensure that life-saving treatments are readily available and affordable for all people on the continent.

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