Panelists at the TICAD 9 thematic event on “The Future of Health Technology Innovation and Equity” share perspectives on advancing inclusive innovation and equitable access to health technologies across Africa. Photo: GHIT Fund.
Yokohama, Japan – The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) provided a critical platform for advancing the dialogue on innovation, equity and resilience in global health. At a thematic event on 20 August 2025 co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on behalf of the Access and Delivery Partnership (ADP), and the Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund, global leaders and experts came together to discuss the future of health technology innovation and equitable access in Africa.
The high-level event focused on accelerating research and development (R&D), scaling delivery of new health technologies and building resilient, equitable systems to respond to converging crises – from climate change to pandemics and economic shocks.
It was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, reflecting the country’s longstanding commitment to global health and development, and its role in advancing universal health coverage and human security.
In his opening remarks, Professor Keizo Takemi, Former Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan and a long-time champion of global health, emphasized the urgency the world is facing. He pointed to the mounting challenges posed by compounding crises, global disruptions and the persistent threat of pandemics – factors that are threatening progress on universal health coverage, sustainable development and human security.
Professor Takemi highlighted the importance of the Government of Japan’s partnership with UNDP and the GHIT Fund in meeting the needs of low- and middle-income countries to deliver innovative new health technologies and ensure access for the people who need them most. He also pointed to the recent launch of the Japan Institute for Health Security and the upcoming Universal Health Coverage Knowledge Hub as milestones in Japan’s broader efforts to strengthen infectious disease research and global health collaboration.
Following the opening, Haoliang Xu, UNDP Acting Administrator, delivered a keynote address on the emerging health security challenges in Africa.
Xu underscored that despite complex development challenges impacting health systems in Africa, there are also unprecedented opportunities. Innovations in digital health, artificial intelligence (AI) and health financing are enabling countries to leapfrog traditional barriers to access. Strategic, cross-sectoral partnerships are essential to ensure that new solutions – spanning medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics for neglected diseases – are scalable, sustainable, and inclusive.
“Health is both a driver and an outcome of development, and the African and Japanese leadership here at TICAD is an illustration of the effective co-creation needed to accelerate progress,” Xu said. “UNDP, as part of the UN family, will work in this critical coalition to unlock and scale innovative solutions for health development in Africa.”
The panel discussion that followed brought together diverse voices from the innovation, regulatory and private sectors.
Professor Kelly Chibale, Director of H3D, CEO of H3D Foundation and Professor at the University of Cape Town, spotlighted how AI is accelerating African-led drug discovery and transforming how medicines are developed and tailored for diverse populations. By leveraging digital solutions, his team is identifying genetic variants that influence how malaria and tuberculosis (TB) drugs are metabolized. These insights are being used to recommend more effective dosing – even in the absence of large-scale biobanks.
“What we did was to use AI to help us leapfrog the barrier of not having enough data,” explained Professor Kelly Chibale. “We don't have biobanks in Africa, and used a technique known as transfer learning to identify genetic variants using artificial intelligence that are prevalent in Africa that are likely to affect the breakdown or metabolism of malaria and TB drugs, and then incorporate the effects of these genetic variants into existing mathematical models to predict what tailored doses must be used.”
Turning from research to implementation, Kentaro Maekawa, Senior Director, International Cooperation Business Department at NEC Corporation, shared lessons from deploying biometric and digital tools in Ghana and Bangladesh through public–private partnerships. He emphasized that meaningful innovation depends on usability, trust and adaptability at the community level. Maekawa stressed that the success of NEC’s digital health projects relied on listening to community voices and working closely with local partners. True progress, he reflected, cannot come from a company or technology alone, rather it must be built through practical solutions shaped by and for the people they are meant to serve.
Dr. Hayato Urabe, Associate Vice President, Investment for Impact, at the GHIT Fund, reflected on more than a decade of experience funding R&D for neglected diseases, including malaria, TB and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). He highlighted GHIT’s unique public–private model.
One key lesson, he said, is the importance of embedding access planning early in the innovation cycle. “Access should not be an afterthought,” he stressed. “We started talking about access to a new peadiatric treatment option for schistosomiasis in 2018… It’s something that we have to start early.” Dr. Urabe also highlighted the growing momentum in proposals that utilize digital technologies and AI within the GHIT Fund’s portfolio, alongside the emerging contributions from African institutions and research networks.
Chimwemwe Chamdimba, Head of the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) Programme at AUDA-NEPAD, shared how African regulators are closing the gap between innovation and access by harmonizing standards and procedures. Through the AMRH initiative and the establishment of the African Medicines Agency (AMA), the continent is seeing faster and more coordinated pathways to approval. She noted that 21 countries have also adopted the AU Model Law on Medical Products Regulation, a key step in aligning national legislation with regional regulatory frameworks. As the establishment of the AMA continues, coordination across national, regional and continental levels and collaboration with the private sector will be essential to ensure a regulatory system that is “ready to introduce the technologies that we require in a timely and efficient manner.”
Throughout the discussion, a shared message emerged: technology alone will not deliver impact. Real progress depends on aligning innovation with access – through inclusive governance, long-term investment and partnerships rooted in local leadership. From AI-powered drug discovery to harmonized regulatory systems, the event underscored that equitable health solutions must be co-created with the communities they are meant to serve.
H.E. Ryo Nakamura, Ambassador, Assistant Minister/Director-General for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, closed the event with a powerful reminder of the importance of innovation and collaboration in global health. He emphasized that innovative tools, technologies and strategies are essential to respond to health threats in ways that are both equitable and effective. Looking ahead, he highlighted that collaboration in technology development, financing, and strong partnerships across the health sector will be a driving force for the future.