Leading healthcare professionals, legal practitioners, policymakers, academics, and global health experts from across Africa and beyond are expected to gather in Lagos this July for the 2026 Annual International Conference of the Association of Medical & Health Law Practitioners in Africa (AMHLPA).

Scheduled to hold from July 19 to July 23, 2026, at the Tayo Aderinokun Hall, University of Lagos, the conference is expected to serve as a major platform for discussions on the future of healthcare delivery, health law, and policy reforms across the African continent.

With the theme, “Re-imagining Improved Healthcare in Attaining Universal Health Coverage in Africa: Changing the Narrative Towards Global Health Standards,” organizers say the conference will focus on practical solutions aimed at strengthening healthcare systems and improving access to quality healthcare services for millions of Africans.

The event comes at a time when many African countries continue to grapple with challenges ranging from inadequate healthcare infrastructure and workforce shortages to public health emergencies and evolving legal frameworks governing healthcare delivery.

Addressing Critical Healthcare Challenges

Conference sessions will explore a wide range of pressing issues, including:

• Human resources for health and capacity building;
• Medical aid in conflict zones;
• The abolition of the death penalty as a human rights issue;
• Pandemic preparedness and emergency response systems;
• Forensic medicine;
• Reinventing primary healthcare systems; and
• Ethical considerations in clinical trials.

Organizers believe these discussions will contribute to shaping policies capable of accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) across Africa.

Distinguished International Speakers

The conference boasts an impressive lineup of renowned speakers from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Among the headline speakers is Hon. Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Care, who will deliver the keynote address.

Other notable participants include former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, GCON, alongside legal scholars, healthcare administrators, legislators, and public health experts from countries including Nigeria, Egypt, Switzerland, Gambia, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

The gathering will also feature contributions from distinguished academics such as Prof. Josephine Agbonika, Prof. Foluso Lesi, Prof. Michael Adikwu, and Prof. Akinwumi Oluwole Komolafe, among others.

Platform for Research and Policy Innovation

As part of the conference activities, researchers and professionals have been invited to submit papers and poster presentations addressing contemporary issues in health law and healthcare governance.

Organizers say the conference aims to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration between legal and healthcare professionals, while promoting innovative solutions to emerging healthcare challenges across the continent.

Growing Importance of Health Law in Africa

Experts say the intersection between healthcare and law has become increasingly important in recent years, particularly following the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and growing concerns over healthcare financing, patient rights, medical negligence, public health regulation, and bioethics.

By bringing together experts from multiple sectors, AMHLPA hopes to foster meaningful dialogue capable of influencing legislation, improving healthcare governance, and strengthening health systems throughout Africa.

Looking Ahead

With delegates expected from numerous countries, the 2026 AMHLPA International Conference is shaping up to be one of the continent’s most significant gatherings on health law and healthcare policy.

For many participants, the conference represents more than a professional gathering—it is an opportunity to develop actionable strategies that could help transform healthcare outcomes and advance the goal of equitable, accessible, and sustainable healthcare for all Africans.