Varian CEO Dow Wilson Pushes For Healthcare Infrastructure Investment In Africa

(RTTNews) - In recommendations submitted to President Barack Obama this week, Dow Wilson, CEO of Varian Medical Syatems (VAR), and other members of the President's Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa or PAC-DBIA, called for increased flexibility in how international aid is allocated to improve healthcare in Africa.

"The U.S. government needs to provide increased flexibility with its international aid funds in order to increase primary care capacity and strengthen health systems," Wilson said.  "Flexibility will allow for multipurpose infrastructure investment to address both immediate healthcare crises as well as long-term healthcare infrastructure gaps.  This should improve coordination of care, increase efficiency, and reduce mortality rates from communicable and non-communicable diseases."

The PAC-DBIA, which includes 15 members representing small, medium, and large companies from a variety of industry sectors, was established by President Obama last year to improve commercial engagement between U.S. companies and Africa.