Africa’s road to pharma independence ‘decades away’
Africa is accelerating efforts to produce its own vaccines and medicines, a shift seen as vital for long-term health security and economic resilience.
But experts warn that true pharmaceutical independence is still decades away.
Professor Fareed Abdullah from the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) said Africa must urgently break its reliance on pharmaceutical imports from the Global North.
“We can’t always rely on countries in Europe and North America for our health needs. Currently, Africa manufactures only 1% of its vaccines,” Abdullah said.
He pointed to a promising shift, citing South Africa’s vaccine development initiative, which integrates discovery, prototyping, and manufacturing.
“It’s the beginning of a new era. But it will take 10 to 20 years to build the capacity needed. That journey requires tech transfer, international collaboration, and long-term government commitment.”
Global Fund Backs African Production
Last month, a significant milestone was reached when the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria procured Africa-made HIV treatment for the first time.
The medicine, a fixed-dose combination of tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (TLD), was sourced from a leading Kenyan pharmaceutical company and delivered to Mozambique. The volume supplied will treat more than 72,000 people annually.
Hui Yang, Head of Supply Operations at the Global Fund, called it a “historic milestone” in promoting regional manufacturing.
“By fostering production based in Africa, we are strengthening supply security and expanding access to quality-assured, affordable health products across the continent. This is about contributing to global health security,” he said.
Yang added that the Global Fund is working with partners like the Africa CDC, regional economic communities, the World Bank’s IFC, and UNITAID to support manufacturing and procurement.
They are already sourcing antimalarial medicines, insecticide-treated nets, and essential drugs like co-trimoxazole from African producers, all of which are aligned with strict quality assurance standards.
From Research Hubs to Global Leaders
According to Abdullah, South Africa and other African countries are home to world-class scientists, with the primary constraint not talent, but funding.
He highlighted how the continent's scientific institutions used their HIV and TB infrastructure to significantly contribute to COVID-19 research.
“South Africa became one of the top contributors to global COVID research. That was a gift not just to ourselves, but to the world,” he said.
Abdullah emphasized the need to diversify research funding, especially in the wake of reduced U.S. financial support under former President Donald Trump.
“We were quite dependent on U.S. funding, but it’s time we built broader financial support to sustain our scientific community. The capacity is here; what’s needed is consistent investment.”
Health as an Engine for Economic Growth
Beyond health outcomes, Abdullah believes that local manufacturing and investment in medical research can unlock economic benefits.
“We’re working towards a micro-economy where African countries buy what we produce. But we must ensure our products are globally competitive, so governments choose local procurement over imports.”
He acknowledged the financial hurdles in lower-middle-income countries, many of which are heavily burdened by debt.
“It’s a tough conversation. A lot of our budget goes to debt servicing. But if we can demonstrate a return on investment from health innovation, and bring in innovative financing, we can make the case for increased funding.”
Abdullah called on the private sector to step up: “Investment in research and development benefits not only health systems, but the broader economy.”
Pandemic Preparedness: A Continental Commitment
Asked about the U.S. decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization’s pandemic agreement, Abdullah said preparedness must be seen as a shared global responsibility, and Africa is stepping up.
“Preparedness isn’t just about money; it’s also about systems. In South Africa, we now have strong genomic and disease surveillance capabilities through the MRC. We’re better organised to detect new pathogens and emerging outbreaks.”
While the U.S. exit is a setback, he emphasised that 124 countries have signed the pandemic agreement, which shows a strong international commitment.
“Pandemics destroy lives and economies. We cannot afford to be caught unprepared again,” Abdullah said.
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