African countries have been urged to take greater control of their healthcare systems by investing in genomics and precision medicine as the continent grapples with a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The call was made during a webinar held on Monday, July 27, 2026, on the theme, “Genomics and NCDs: Toward African-Led Precision Medicine – Shaping the Future of African Health.” Experts at the event argued that Africa’s health future must be built on homegrown scientific innovation, stronger regional partnerships and ownership of genetic data.
Presenting a paper at the webinar, Professor Nasser Laouali, Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Ben Guerir, Morocco, described the continent’s rising incidence of chronic diseases as a “silent health crisis.”
According to him, nearly one in four African adults is living with multimorbidity, while deaths linked to non-communicable diseases—including cardiovascular diseases, cancers and diabetes—are projected to surpass those from communicable, maternal and nutritional diseases by 2030.
He stressed that Africa can no longer afford to rely solely on treating diseases after they occur, insisting that prevention through precision medicine offers a more sustainable path for the continent’s healthcare systems.
“Precision medicine is not a luxury. It is an essential tool for building resilient health systems capable of addressing the unique needs of African populations,” he said.
Prof. Laouali underscored the importance of genomic sovereignty, which he described as the ability of African nations to generate, own and utilise their own genetic data. Despite possessing the world’s greatest genetic diversity, Africa contributes only about two per cent of global genomic databases.
He warned that the underrepresentation of Africans in global genetic research means many medicines and treatment protocols are developed using non-African data, leaving millions underserved.
“This leaves millions of Africans underserved by healthcare solutions that are not designed around their genetic profiles,” he noted.
The epidemiologist highlighted the growing partnership between Ghana and Morocco as an example of how African nations can work together to advance precision medicine. Ghana, he said, brings strong clinical expertise and biomedical research initiatives such as The African Cancer Atlas, while Morocco has made significant investments in genomic infrastructure through the Precision Medicine Hub and the Moroccan Genome Project.
The collaboration includes researcher exchange programmes, postgraduate training in artificial intelligence and genomic sequencing, as well as joint research on cancer and neurological diseases.
Prof. Laouali disclosed that the partnership is among seven bilateral agreements signed between Ghana and Morocco in July 2026 to deepen cooperation in healthcare, scientific research and pharmaceutical development.
He also welcomed President John Dramani Mahama’s calls for greater health sovereignty across Africa, describing them as timely amid declining international health financing and increasing demands on national healthcare systems.
According to him, African governments must strengthen their capacity to finance healthcare, produce medicines locally and protect sensitive health data if the continent is to achieve true health independence.
He further noted that countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia have adopted national genomics strategies, while the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention continues to champion genomics as a pillar of the continent’s health security agenda.
Prof. Laouali concluded by urging African leaders to invest in population-specific genomic databases, train more genomic scientists and deepen regional partnerships.
“The future of precision medicine will not be imported into Africa,” he said.
