Briefing Paper

Southern African Development Community Health Policy: Under Construction

Regional health policy in Southern Africa is still under construction. The SADC Protocol on Health, signed in 1999, lays the cornerstone for health development in the region. A pressing issue in the SADC region is a lack of coordinated access to healthcare and support from civil society and the Global South. The SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Plan (RISDP) lays the ground work for change within SADC. However, certain issues are not addressed in the RISDP and by SADC more generally. With the revision of the RISDP, this is an opportune time to present innovations for SADC’s consideration. This Policy Brief makes five proposals for policy innovations for SADC. Individual member states may propose any one of these innovations to other SADC Member States to initiate policy development.