Donor cuts spark calls for African-made medicines
Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration, Pinky Kekana, has called on African nations to develop their own pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity for the continent to end its dependency on foreign suppliers for life-saving medicines and vaccines.
She was speaking at a G20 side event on health on Monday, where she emphasised the urgent need for local solutions in the face of shrinking global aid and rising health threats.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, wealthy nations were accused of "vaccine hoarding", buying up the bulk of global vaccine supplies in advanced deals with pharmaceutical companies, leaving low- and middle-income countries with limited access.
While some countries administered third booster shots, others - including many across Africa - struggled to secure even first doses.
This led to severe inequities and delayed pandemic response efforts and underscored the risks of global overreliance on a few manufacturing hubs in the Global North.
"COVID-19 exposed the fragility of global supply chains and the danger of overreliance on external sources for essential health products,” said Kekana.
"Many African countries were left at the mercy of distant markets, facing vaccine inequity and severe shortages.
"Yet, even amid these challenges, Africa demonstrated resilience, innovation, and unity.”
She cited efforts like the "African Medical Supplies Platform" and local vaccine production initiatives as examples of the continent’s potential, but warned that progress could now be stalled due to international aid cuts.
"We are at a pivotal crossroads,” Kekana said.
“The future of Africa must be one where we lead our own development, manufacture our own medicines, and design health solutions tailored to our context.
" This is central to Agenda 2063, the African Union’s vision for a self-reliant and prosperous continent."
Kekana said Africa must establish special economic zones focused on pharmaceutical manufacturing to accelerate industrial growth, create jobs, and ensure health sovereignty.
"Under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s leadership, South Africa has driven efforts to integrate pharmaceutical manufacturing across the continent. But realising this vision requires collaboration, innovation, and a shared purpose,” she said.
Kekana warned that ongoing donor pullbacks could have consequences far beyond Africa’s borders.
"Infectious diseases like drug-resistant tuberculosis and emerging zoonotic threats don’t respect borders. Reduced funding not only threatens Africa’s healthcare systems but also poses a direct risk to global health security,” she said.
Kekana outlined three interlinked strategies to achieve sustainable pharmaceutical production:
"Accelerating Local Manufacturing: Expanding production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), vaccines, antimicrobials, and chronic disease treatments through public-private partnerships, tax incentives, and pooled procurement.
"Institutionalizing Pooled Procurement: Aggregating demand across all 54 African Union member states to secure better prices, predictability, and bargaining power, enabled by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
"Mobilizing African-Led Finance: Unlocking African and global capital through investment incentives. Institutions like the African Development Bank and funds such as the African Prosperity Fund could offer patient financing tied to job creation and technology transfer."
She stressed the importance of a skilled workforce, urging investment in pharmaceutical science programmes, vocational training, and fellowships with global research institutions.
"Africa must invest in its own people. A new generation of scientists and inventors will be key to building an independent and resilient healthcare sector,” she said.
Kekana concluded by calling for unity and commitment to the continent’s health sovereignty goals.
"The era of unlimited aid is over. But our collective ingenuity, solidarity, and market power can replace what we’ve lost — and build something even stronger.
“Let us deepen AfCFTA implementation, institutionalize pooled procurement, and mobilize African capital. If we invest in our people, for our people, Africa can become a net exporter of healthcare solutions.”
"Together, we can ensure that no African is left behind — and show the world that Africa’s potential is truly limitless.”
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