Zambia, Zimbabwe Reject US Health Deal Over Data Fears as Kenya Fights Court Challenge

Zambia and Zimbabwe have rejected multi-million-dollar US-backed health cooperation agreements, citing concerns over data protection and sovereignty, in a setback to Washington’s push to expand bilateral health partnerships in Africa.

The decisions come as Kenya’s government fights activists in court over a similar deal signed in Washington, with critics arguing that sensitive health data could be exposed without adequate safeguards.

Zambia said it would not proceed with a proposed five-year health compact worth more than $1 billion, saying certain provisions required further review to ensure the country’s national interests, including control over health information, were protected.

Zimbabwe also halted talks on a separate health funding arrangement estimated at about $367 million, with officials raising objections to clauses they described as imbalanced and potentially compromising control over biological and epidemiological data.

The US-backed programme, negotiated bilaterally with participating governments, is aimed at strengthening health systems, expanding access to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria treatment, improving maternal and child health services, and enhancing pandemic preparedness and disease surveillance.

Officials familiar with the framework say more than a dozen African countries have signed similar agreements or memoranda of understanding, collectively running into billions of dollars over several years.

The programme forms part of Washington’s broader strategy to channel health financing through country-specific compacts rather than multilateral mechanisms.

In Kenya, the government signed a five-year health cooperation agreement in Washington late last year valued at about $1.6 billion, alongside additional domestic funding commitments.

President William Ruto’s administration has described the pact as critical to sustaining gains in the fight against HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis and to modernising the country’s health infrastructure.

However, a group of civil society organisations and activists has challenged the agreement in court, arguing that its data-sharing provisions risk breaching constitutional protections on privacy and that the deal was concluded without sufficient public participation and parliamentary oversight.

Kenya’s High Court has temporarily halted implementation of the agreement pending the hearing of the case.

The government has defended the pact, saying all data protections comply with domestic law and that the partnership does not undermine sovereignty.

The pushback in Zambia and Zimbabwe underscores growing sensitivity across parts of Africa over data governance and control of public health information, even as governments seek external financing to support strained health systems.

For Washington, the mixed reception highlights the delicate balance between expanding funding for disease control and addressing concerns among partner countries about how health data is accessed, stored and used.

ligadwah@businessdayafrica.org