Africa’s pharma future: United we stand, divided we stall

Africa produces a mere fraction of the health and pharmaceutical products it needs. With the continent producing just one percent of the vaccines and about three percent of medicines it needs, the sad reality is that Africa outsources its health security. By relying on imports from overseas producers, Africa spends billions of dollars and exports millions of jobs. This is not what the African Union (AU) founding fathers dreamed in 1963, or what the ‘Africa We Want’ agenda 2063 should stand for. Unfortunately, as President Paul Kagame pointed out during an exclusive interview with public broadcaster RBA on June 17, many leaders know what to do but they often fail to show up when it comes to delivering. The pharmaceutical landscape is currently so fragmented. Each country operates with its own regulatory framework, hindering the free movement of essential medicines and vaccines. This is a disincentive for large-scale production, as manufacturers face multiple hurdles to navigate across different markets. The continent’s path to self-reliance in pharmaceuticals demands a unified approach – harmonizing production and regulatory capabilities. The urgency for such unity has never been more evident, especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in Africa’s healthcare systems. ALSO READ: African Medicines Agency set to start work in Rwanda Even though Rwanda is still heavily dependent on pharmaceutical imports, the country exemplifies the transformative potential of a conducive environment for pharmaceutical advancement. No African citizen requires visa to enter the country, it has ranked highly in ease of doing business for a while now, and it takes just hours to open a new business. It is, therefore, no coincidence that Rwanda has won bids to host the International Vaccines Institute (IVI) Africa regional office as well as the African Medicines Agency (AMA) and the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) headquarters. The ongoing construction of a state-of-the-art BioNTech manufacturing plant, which is in its advanced stage, also positions Rwanda to become the first African country to produce mRNA technology vaccines. The country’s proactive policies highlight the importance of infrastructure and regulatory support in achieving pharmaceutical independence. The African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) programme, championed by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), offers a blueprint for collective progress. Embracing it across the continent will enhance Africa's preparedness for future pandemics, better than the desperate response observed during the Covid-19 crisis. AMRH imperative Regulatory harmonization in pharmaceuticals should not be merely a political move. It is a strategic imperative for the continent’s health sovereignty. Regulatory silos have long been a barrier to pharmaceutical advancement in Africa. Each country’s unique regulations lead to inefficiencies, duplications, and delays in the approval and distribution of essential medicines. The fragmented approach not only hinders the timely availability of life-saving drugs but also discourages investment from pharmaceutical companies wary of navigating a labyrinth of regulatory frameworks. The economic benefits of a united pharmaceutical strategy cannot be overstated. A harmonized regulatory framework would create a larger and more attractive market for pharmaceutical companies, and innovation. ALSO READ: Rwanda's path to pharma self-sufficiency: Straightening regulatory oversight and building a robust healthcare system Boosting local production and removing barriers to intra-Africa trade will reduce dependency on imports, lower costs, and ensure more consistent and reliable supply chains. This, in turn, will improve healthcare outcomes, reduce the burden on healthcare systems, and drive economic growth through the creation of jobs and infrastructure development. The Covid-19 pandemic illustrated the dangers of relying on external sources for critical health supplies. Export bans, supply chain disruptions, and global competition for limited resources left many African countries begging for scraps. By building robust, local pharmaceutical industries, Africa can ensure that it meets its own healthcare needs. Nationalist tendencies and protectionist policies, in pharmaceuticals and otherwise, must give way to a more cooperative approach if Africa is to earn its place on the global stage. The author is a pharmacist by training and a senior editor with The New Times.

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Africa’s pharma future: United we stand, divided we stall