KIGALI, Rwanda – The cost of doing business in the East African Community which has been still affecting healthcare delivery in the region is gradually falling.

The EAC partner states are working together to address the infrastructural challenges to reduce the cost of doing business hence support the health sector of the region.

“Transferring medical equipments from one part of the region to another is gradually improving,” Rogers Ayiko,a Global Health Specialist working at the EAC Secretariat as the Principal Health Systems and Policy Officer said during the 4th East African Healthcare Federation Conference held last week in Kigali Rwanda

Ayiko said, “Previously some goods used to take months to leave one port and reach another country but with the concerted efforts of the EAC partner states, the number of days taken for good to leave say port Mombasa to Uganda has reduced now which is a very good progress as determined by the people of the region”.

The other big cost that affects doing business in the region is the cost of communication.

“The cost of communication is reducing gradually in the entire region,” Ayiko said.

“EAC countries are coming together to agree to reduce on taxes so that people can be able to communicate across the region which is supporting doing business in the region,” he said.

The current landscape of healthcare in EAC shows that the EAC Common Market has around 165 million people with a market worth USD 120billion which if collectively harnessed can help the region to be more competitive, transfer technology and information better.

Source: East African Business Week

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