Africa’s changing health burden puts pharmaceutical supply chains under pressure, says new report

The article covers generic medicine manufacturers’ increasing investment into local manufacturing in Africa, along with the challenges these drug-makers are facing in addressing gaps in access to medicine.

It quotes Jayasree K. Iyer, Chief Executive Officer of the Access to Medicine Foundation, who explains that while Africa continues to face a high burden of infectious diseases, the rise of non-communicable diseases is compounding healthcare inequities. 

“There are dramatic shifts happening. Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are surging, and are projected to become the leading cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. But at the same time, severe maternal health challenges remain a persistent and urgent priority.”

The article notes that factors such as market uncertainty are preventing generic medicine manufacturers from scaling up operating capacity.

It also quotes Claudia Martínez, Director of Research at the Foundation: “Africa’s pharmaceutical challenge is no longer simply about getting medicines into the market, but about developing a supply system capable of serving patients consistently.

“We are very much at a pivot point when it comes to African pharmaceutical manufacturing. The question we’re grappling with is not so much whether medicines can reach African markets. It’s how do we build a supply system that is resilient, that is more affordable, that is actually less dependent on a small pool of manufacturers.”

The article also covers the eight opportunities for action identified in the report, including improving demand visibility, coordinating procurement, harmonising regulation, reducing bureaucratic barriers and directing affordable capital towards manufacturers.