Health Systems That Work: Hessons Consulting Group’s Strategy for a Stronger Africa

Introduction.

Healthcare is the backbone of socio-economic development. Across Africa, however, health systems remain under pressure—strained by underfunding, workforce migration, fragmented services, and widening inequities, particularly in rural and underserved regions. The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed these vulnerabilities, underscoring the urgent need for systemic reform and strategic innovation.

As governments, development partners, NGOs, and private healthcare providers work to modernize healthcare delivery, a shift in thinking is required—one grounded in strategy, systems design, and sustainability. This is where Hessons Consulting Group (HCG) makes a difference.

We go beyond traditional consulting. We are strategic partners driving systems change. With deep expertise in African contexts and a multidisciplinary approach, HCG bridges policy, people, technology, and finance to strengthen health systems from the ground up.

1. Understanding the Healthcare Landscape: Complex Systems, Diverse Needs. Africa’s healthcare ecosystem is rich and varied—encompassing community services, faith-based hospitals, public institutions, and private clinics. Despite this diversity, common challenges persist:

• Chronic underinvestment in infrastructure, digital systems, and medical equipment
• Workforce burnout and migration due to inadequate compensation and poor working conditions
• Inefficiencies in financing and procurement, causing frequent stock-outs and resource waste
• Weak governance and fragmented policies, especially at county or devolved levels
• Inequitable access to healthcare for women, children, persons with disabilities, and residents of ASALs (Arid and Semi-Arid Lands)

These structural issues demand more than piecemeal interventions. They call for long-term strategies, cross-sector collaboration, and data-informed execution.

2. How Hessons Consulting Group Creates Value in Healthcare

a) Health Systems Strengthening.

HCG partners with ministries of health, counties, hospitals, and development agencies to design and implement integrated, efficient, and inclusive health systems. Our services include:

• Health sector strategic planning and investment frameworks
• Facility assessments and infrastructure optimization
• Primary healthcare model design
• County health systems review and restructuring
• Public-private partnership (PPP) strategies in service delivery

Our work is anchored in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals and SDG 3 targets.

b) Workforce Development and Capacity Building.

We deliver practical, impact-oriented training tailored to healthcare professionals and administrators. Our core programs include:

• Leadership in Health Management
• Digital Transformation in Health
• Change Management for Hospital Administrators
• Results-Based Performance Management

These programs close critical skills gaps and prepare leaders for a digital, patient-centered future.

c) Health Financing and Cost Efficiency Advisory.

We help organizations design and manage sustainable health financing mechanisms:

• Performance-based financing schemes
• Cost-efficiency audits and reduction plans
• NHIF claims optimization and reimbursement modeling
• Community and insurance-based product development

Our analytics-led approach ensures that institutions achieve more with less.

d) Policy and Regulatory Advisory.

HCG supports policymakers and regulatory bodies to advance evidence-based, inclusive policy frameworks:

• Policy review and drafting (national and sub-national)
• Impact assessments of regulatory frameworks
• Health worker retention and incentive design
• Support for health system decentralization

e) Digital Health and Innovation Integration.

We help health institutions embrace and scale digital innovations that are context-appropriate:

• EMR and Hospital Information Systems implementation
• Health data governance design
• Telemedicine rollout and support
• Community-level digital health solutions
• Monitoring and Evaluation dashboards (Power BI, Tableau)

Technology is a tool, not the goal. We ensure it’s tailored to local capacity and readiness.

3. Our Unique Approach: Strategic. Human-Centered. Localized.

What sets HCG apart is our grounded, future-focused approach:

• A multidisciplinary team including economists, health experts, policy analysts, and systems engineers
• Co-creation with frontline workers, communities, and policymakers
• Long-term change management embedded in every engagement
• Deep respect for local ownership and institutional capacity building

We believe healthcare systems must work for the people they serve—not the other way around.

4. Recent Highlights and Success Stories

• Primary Healthcare Optimization (Kenya): HCG conducted a facility review and service gap analysis, leading to a resource allocation tool that reduced operational costs by 15% while improving patient outcomes.
• Workforce Training for Regional Hospital Network: Over 200 staff trained in health systems leadership, resulting in improved retention and streamlined service delivery.
• Health Financing Strategy for NGO Consortium: Developed a blended financing model combining donor funds, insurance, and community savings for maternal health in rural Kenya.

5. The Future of Healthcare: Where HCG is Leading.

As Africa contends with rising disease burdens, climate threats, and demographic shifts, HCG is investing in next-generation healthcare strategy:

• Climate-resilient health systems advisory
• AI-enabled diagnostics and triage solutions
• Impact measurement for donor-funded programs
• Behavioral economics in community health engagement
• Cross-border health policy harmonization (East Africa)

Conclusion: Partnering for Resilient, Equitable, and Future-Ready Healthcare.

At Hessons Consulting Group, we believe health is not just a service—it is a right, a system, and a foundation for prosperity. Through strategic insight, systems thinking, and deep sectoral experience, we empower governments, NGOs, donors, and providers to build resilient, equitable, and future-ready healthcare systems.

The path forward is complex, but progress is possible. If you are a policymaker, funder, or health leader committed to long-term impact—let’s walk this journey together. Contact Us Today! Reach out today through 0799 137087 or book a free and personalized consultation here.