Zambia to Sign $3.6 Billion Health Deal With U.S., Excluding Data Sharing

Zambia is set to sign a revised health agreement with the United States valued at $3.6 billion, a deal that notably excludes contentious clauses requiring the African nation to share patient health data and specimens with U.S. authorities. The pact, spanning five years, combines funding from both countries for Zambia's health services, according to Zambian Minister of Health Roma Chilengi.

While the exact U.S. contribution is not specified, Chilengi indicated on Monday that the U.S. would provide $1.5 billion over the five-year period. The agreement is scheduled for signing on Thursday.

This revised approach comes as the U.S. has been pursuing new bilateral health agreements with approximately two dozen African nations. Some of these agreements have faced pushback due to requirements for patient data and specimen sharing. These new agreements are part of an initiative aiming to encourage African nations to gradually increase their own health spending while the U.S. reduces its assistance over time.

Chilengi stated that the controversial clauses obligating Zambia to share individual health data and any specimens had been completely removed from the current agreement. He emphasized that Zambia will not be obliged to share any specimens and expressed gratitude for the U.S. partnership.

The U.S. has already finalized similar health data and specimen-sharing agreements with at least nine African countries. These agreements typically require those nations to submit data and specimens within five days of a request. According to the U.S. State Department, this information is intended to help track and prepare for emerging infectious diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential. The U.S. has stated it can then share this data with up to 10 unspecified American non-government entities for the development of diagnostics and medical treatments.

However, concerns have been raised that the agreements do not guarantee that the originating African nations would benefit from any developed medical treatments. Any such benefits would be contingent on the availability of funds and would be prioritized after the U.S. government's domestic needs, with the African nation potentially required to pay for them.

This development follows similar rejections of U.S. health deals by other African nations over data and specimen-sharing requirements. In February, Zimbabwe rejected a U.S. health deal, with government spokesperson Nick Mangwana citing concerns that the nation would provide resources for scientific discovery without assurance of access to the resulting products. Subsequently, the U.S. announced it was ending all health assistance to Zimbabwe. Namibia also reportedly rejected some of these clauses, leading the U.S. to phase out funding for Namibia's HIV treatment and prevention program, although the two decisions were not publicly linked. Ghana has also rejected a similar proposal, with President John Dramani Mahama stating that Ghana would not have the right to inspect medications or products brought into the country, despite sharing its medical records.