{
  "id": 11707299,
  "title": "Treat healthcare as an investment, not a budget cost – Mahama",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/treat-healthcare-as-an-investment-not-a-budget-cost-mahama",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-03T14:52:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/treat-healthcare-as-an-investment-not-a-budget-cost-mahama/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments and investors to reevaluate their approach to healthcare financing, advocating for a shift in perspective that treats health as an investable economic sector rather than merely a budget cost. Addressing the Health Plenary of the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, Mahama emphasized that investment in health is crucial for the continent's economic transformation, human capital development, job creation, and macroeconomic stability. He stressed that for too long, African nations and global investors have mistakenly viewed healthcare as a social expenditure to be funded only when budget resources allow, rather than an essential component of a high-growth economic sector. Mahama highlighted the economic returns from healthcare investment, citing studies that demonstrate targeted basic emergency maternal and newborn care can generate significant economic and social returns for every dollar invested. He also referenced research indicating that reductions in mortality have contributed substantially to income growth in developing economies. Mahama argued that a robust health sector not only enhances citizens' well-being but also bolsters national economies, urging stakeholders to recognize health investment as a vital element of Africa's economic future.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}