The inaugural GITEX Future Health Africa has ended with a strong call for Africa to move beyond consuming foreign technologies and begin developing its own digital health solutions.
Held in Casablanca, the three-day conference brought together global healthcare leaders, scientists, innovators, startups, investors, researchers and policymakers to explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies can transform healthcare systems across Africa.
The event was organised by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Sciences and Health, Morocco’s Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Morocco and KAOUN International under the patronage of King Mohammed VI.
Closing the summit, Trixie LohMirmand challenged African countries to take control of their technological future.
She said Africa has the talent, policy support and innovation potential needed to become a global technology powerhouse.
“Consuming technology makes you a market, creating technology makes you a power,” she stated.
She urged governments and innovators to build on the momentum created by the summit to accelerate digital transformation across the continent.
Organisers announced that the next edition of the conference will take place in September 2027 and will expand its focus to areas such as bioscience, diagnostics, logistics, manufacturing and specialised healthcare technologies.
Bassma Jioudi also stressed the need for Africa to develop homegrown innovations tailored to local healthcare challenges.
She said the continent must become a hub for designing, testing and producing technologies that respond directly to African needs.
The conference featured the presentation of 180 scientific papers, alongside workshops, exhibitions and partnership agreements aimed at improving healthcare research and training.
Awards were also presented for outstanding scientific contributions, with Manal Chakour emerging as the top winner.
Blink Pharma was named the best startup in healthcare innovation, winning $10,000 in the Supernova Challenge.
Participants praised the conference for positioning Africa at the centre of the future of digital healthcare innovation.
