Advancing Access to NCD Medicines in Africa: A Step Forward, but Stroke Care Still Needs Urgent Attention

30 Jun 2025

The World Stroke Organization was proud to take part in the recent Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines and Products meeting, held in Kampala, Uganda. WSO Executive Director, Mia Grupper, represented the organization at this important convening of stakeholders. WSO became a member of this Coalition earlier this year, in recognition of the critical need to strengthen access to quality stroke prevention and treatment services as part of broader NCD care.

Over the course of three impactful days, Coalition members were joined by ministerial representatives from seven African countries and global health leaders to explore how access to essential NCD medicines and diagnostics can be improved at all levels of the health system.

Key Priorities Identified

One of the central themes of the meeting was the importance of breaking down silos and improving collaboration across key sectors—including government, civil society, private sector, implementers, and academia—to ensure sustainable progress. Discussions led to the identification of several shared priorities:

Pooled procurement to improve cost efficiency and availability
Technology transfer and local manufacturing of medicines and products
Integrated, person-centred services tailored to real patient needs
Consistently stocked clinical shelves through better forecasting, procurement, and regulatory harmonization
Financial protection through inclusion in national health insurance packages
Data-driven decision-making, rooted in local realities
Task-shifting to make better use of available human resources

Learning from Local Innovation

Participants also had the opportunity to visit the Ndejje Health Centre and the Joint Medical Store, a medical distribution facility. These visits offered valuable insight into how community-based initiatives—such as patient clubs—are helping individuals living with NCDs to access medicines, adhere to treatment, and engage in secondary prevention.

Looking Ahead: Stroke Care Must Be Prioritized

The meeting concluded with a strategic planning workshop, where Coalition members aligned on next steps and opportunities for collaboration over the coming year.

It is encouraging to see momentum building for NCD prevention and care across Africa even if there are still a lot of barriers. However, stroke care remains under-addressed, despite being a leading cause of death and disability across the continent.

At the World Stroke Organization, we are committed to working closely with countries and partners to ensure stroke care is no longer left behind. Stroke prevention, timely treatment, and post-stroke support must be integrated into national health plans, financing mechanisms, and community health systems if we are to turn the tide on this devastating condition.

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