Geneva | 18 May 2026 — Global leaders meeting in Geneva have called for a shift away from donor-driven global health systems, urging stronger country-led approaches to health financing and delivery.
The call was made during the Accra Reset High-Level Dialogue on Global Health Architecture, held on the margins of the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79). The meeting brought together Heads of State, health ministers, multilateral agencies, and global health experts to discuss reforms aimed at strengthening national ownership of health systems.
More than 250 participants attended the dialogue, which focused on building sovereign, country-led health systems, improving coordination, and increasing domestic investment in health.
The Accra Reset initiative, launched in 2025 by Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, seeks to reshape global health architecture by strengthening national capacity, regional cooperation, and long-term financing models that reduce dependence on external aid.
Speaking at the event, President Mahama said the initiative aims to turn global health commitments into practical national programmes, describing health as a “vanguard” for wider development reforms.
During the ministerial discussions, health leaders from countries including Ghana, Kenya, Indonesia, and Brazil emphasized the need for stronger domestic financing and locally driven health systems.
Brazil’s Health Minister Alexandre Padilha also stressed that sovereignty in health must be backed by strong national systems and regional production capacity.
Kenya’s Health Minister Aden Duale said countries must take greater control of their health systems and financing, while Indonesia’s Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin highlighted the need for sustainable health financing pathways that can secure long-term investment in health.
Global health financing leaders, including representatives from the Global Fund, Gavi, and the Pandemic Fund, said their institutions are increasingly supporting country-led approaches and system-wide reforms.
The meeting concluded with a call for better coordination of global health reforms, stronger alignment with national priorities, and increased investment in resilient health systems.
