Zambia to Sign $1.5 Billion US Health Pact After Resolving Data-Sharing Dispute

Tuesday, 6th October 2026

Lusaka — Zambia will sign a new health agreement with the United States on Thursday that will provide $1.5 billion in US health funding over five years, after the two countries resolved disagreements over medical data-sharing, Health Minister Roma Chilengi said.

Negotiations had stalled earlier this year after Zambia raised concerns about the privacy implications of Washington's proposed data-sharing requirements. There were also concerns over whether US health funding could be linked to access to Zambia's critical minerals.

Under the agreement, the United States will provide $1.5 billion in health funding, while Zambia is expected to commit $2.1 billion of its own resources over the five-year period, according to Chilengi.

The United States is a major financier of health programmes in Zambia, including initiatives targeting HIV/AIDS, malaria and broader public health services.

Data-sharing limits agreed

Chilengi said Zambia had secured changes to the agreement that would restrict data-sharing to information necessary to monitor and evaluate programmes funded by the United States.

A provision that would have allowed the US to request patient medical specimens has also been removed, he said.

The issue has been a source of concern in several African countries negotiating similar health agreements with Washington, as governments seek to balance access to international health financing with national data-protection requirements.

No critical minerals provision

Chilengi also said the health agreement contains no reference to critical minerals, rejecting concerns that Zambia's access to the US health funding would be tied to its mineral resources.

"There is no mention of critical minerals" in the health pact, he said.

The minister added that he was not aware of a separate critical-minerals agreement currently being negotiated between Zambia and the United States.

A changing model for US aid

The agreement is part of a broader shift in US engagement with African countries under the Trump administration, with Washington seeking to move partner countries towards greater domestic financing and self-reliance rather than long-term dependence on aid.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have signed similar health agreements with the United States, while Ghana and Zimbabwe rejected proposed deals over concerns surrounding data-sharing requirements.

Source:Reuters

Reporting:Chris Mfula

Writing:Anathi Madubela

Editing:Ale Alexander Winning& Peter Graff

Why it matters

For Zambia, the agreement provides significant external financing for health programmes at a time when governments across Africa are under pressure to expand public services while managing constrained fiscal resources.

The arrangement also highlights a growing policy debate across Africa over the terms attached to foreign assistance. While international funding remains important for programmes such as HIV/AIDS and malaria control, governments are increasingly weighing those financial benefits against concerns around data sovereignty, privacy and strategic economic interests.

The agreement could also set a precedent for how Zambia and other African countries structure future partnerships with major international donors, particularly where development financing intersects with technology, data and critical minerals.