Private sector initiatives to improve health in Africa

In a presentation made to the Nigerian Chapter of IHF in Lagos in September 2006, Howard Lyons described an analytical approach developed with his colleagues in PA Consulting, Peter Classen and Shaun Bourgeois, to capture large volumes of internationally available data to reflect, at a macro-economic level, the attractiveness or otherwise of African countries for investment in health care. He then reported at a micro-economic level on initiatives and business propositions developed by African health care professionals living overseas who are seeking funding to implement their schemes in their native countries. He concludes that, as a way of improving health outcomes in Africa, private sector investment should be given more serious attention with particular reference to exploiting the talents and commitment of the African diaspora.