Much has been written and analyzed concerning the catastrophic state of health and well-being in Sub-Saharan Africa. Unfortunately, much less has been written on what is needed to meet this challenge in a self-sustainable, highly local and personal way.
The health sector presents attractive opportunities and good returns for various types of entrepreneurs. Health care provision accounts for half of the estimated investment opportunities, with the remainder split across distribution and retail, pharmaceutical and medical product manufacturing, insurance, and medical education.
There is a huge demand for improving the sector's physical capacity as well as staffing for health care delivery. More than half a million hospital beds need to be added to the existing base of 850,000. The region will need 90,000 physicians, half a million nurses, and 300,000 community health workers above the numbers expected to graduate from existing medical colleges and training institutions.
There is also demand for better distribution and retail systems and for pharmaceutical and medical supply production facilities.
By 2016, $25-30 billion of new investments will be needed, 60 percent of which is expected to come from the private sector. Given the breadth and diversity of this health care landscape, private sector investors should be able to find an opportunity that is right for their individual needs and goals.
Many of the opportunities are expected to be in the small business sector. Only about a quarter are expected to have project sizes larger than $3 million.
If you are interested in learning more about these opportunities and would like to discuss how your business or organization can play a role in the transformation of health care service delivery in the most needy region in the world, please contact AfricaAtlantic today at jvan@africaatlantic.com.
