From February 10 to 12, 2026, Rabat hosted the international congress HealthTech 2026, a flagship event dedicated to advancing digital health governance across Africa. The congress is jointly organized by the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD), the Moroccan Society for Digital Health, and the University of Technology of Troyes. Held at CAFRAD headquarters, it represents the Centre’s first major institutional event of 2026.

Convened under the theme “Harnessing Technology for Health Equity: Bridging the Gaps, Empowering Communities,” the congress takes place amid the rapid digital transformation of health systems and the growing imperative for African nations to align public policies with evolving health, technological, and societal dynamics.

The event is organized under the patronage of Her Excellency Professor Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform. It welcomed African ministerial delegations in the health sector, notably from Sierra Leone and Angola, as well as the Minister of Health of The Gambia, underscoring its strong institutional and pan-African character.

This high-level dimension is further reflected in its co-chairmanship, bringing together Dr. Coffi Dieudonné Assouvi, Director General of CAFRAD; Professor Mohammed Rhachi, President of Mohammed V University of Rabat; Professor Christophe Collet, President of the University of Technology of Troyes; a representative of University of Quebec in Outaouais; and the President of the Moroccan Society for Digital Health. Their joint leadership highlights the convergence of institutional, academic, scientific, and diplomatic expertise.

Digital Health as a Driver of Equity and Resilience

HealthTech 2026 seeks to provide a high-level scientific forum for dialogue, knowledge production, and exchange in the fields of digital health and smart medicine. Its core objective is to support the sustainable transformation of African health systems by leveraging technological innovation to enhance equity, expand access to care, and improve the effectiveness of public health policies.

By convening researchers, healthcare professionals, engineers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and institutional partners, the congress fosters interdisciplinary collaboration aimed at reducing disparities in healthcare access and strengthening the capacity of public administrations to design and manage inclusive, resilient health systems.

CAFRAD: Advancing Digital Governance in Africa

As a pan-African intergovernmental organization, CAFRAD places digital transformation at the center of its mission to modernize public administration. Through its co-organization of HealthTech 2026, the Centre reaffirms its commitment to positioning digital technology as a strategic governance tool—particularly within the health sector, where efficiency, ethical standards, and equity are paramount.

The congress builds upon the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2025 in Rabat between CAFRAD and the Moroccan Society for Digital Health, which laid the groundwork for a structured, collaborative pan-African digital health ecosystem rooted in applied research, innovation, and institutional partnership.

Towards a Continental Hub for Scientific and Technological Cooperation

Drawing on the success of previous editions—especially the one held in conjunction with GITEX Africa 2025—HealthTech aims to consolidate its role as a leading continental hub for research, innovation, and scientific cooperation in digital health.

In doing so, the congress also reinforces Morocco’s standing as a strategic gateway for technology transfer and scientific collaboration between Africa and its international partners, in alignment with the forward-looking vision of His Majesty Mohammed VI for a united, innovative, and sovereign Africa.

Bridging Technological Innovation and Public Policy

HealthTech 2026 embodies the essential synergy between technological innovation and public policy. By integrating governance frameworks with digital advancements, the congress contributes to shaping smarter, fairer, and more sustainable health systems for Africa’s future.

Organized around seven thematic panels, the congress showcases cutting-edge developments in critical domains including artificial intelligence in healthcare, telemedicine, big data analytics, medical robotics, precision medicine, preventive health, and the ethical governance of health technologies. The program is further enhanced by keynote plenaries, capacity-building workshops, parallel scientific sessions, a technology exhibition, and dedicated networking spaces designed to strengthen collaboration among public authorities, private-sector actors, and academic institutions.

A selection of outstanding scientific contributions will be published in journals indexed in Scopus, ensuring broad international dissemination and recognition of the research presented.

A Pan-African Platform of Excellence for the Future of Health

Through HealthTech 2026, the African Training and Research Centre in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) and its partners reaffirm their shared commitment to integrating scientific expertise, technological innovation, and sound public governance to advance more efficient, equitable, and sustainable health systems across Africa.

In doing so, the congress positions itself as a leading pan-African platform of excellence, advancing a collective vision of a digital, resilient, and sovereign Africa dedicated to improving the health and well-being of its populations.