Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Pharmaceutical Sector Development in Africa: Progress to Date

  • Current Opinion
  • Published:
Pharmaceutical Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The African Union’s Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa was established to develop the African pharmaceutical industry, a sector with considerable promise for reducing the burden of disease in Africa. With a projected value of over US$40 billion by the next decade, the sector also has the potential to promote economic growth. Additionally, as a technology-based industry it is positioned to advance Africa’s aspiration to transition into a knowledge-based economy. Considerable progress has been made since the development of a business plan for implementing the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa. This includes initiatives to harmonize medicine regulation on the continent, address human capacity and skills shortages, and to promote cooperation and advocacy in the industry. The promise of the sector has also galvanized countries and regions with manufacturing capacity to harness support for its development. The rate-limiting step in this quest is making funding available to build the needed capacity in infrastructure and in Good Manufacturing Practices, as stipulated by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa. A proposed new initiative, the Fund for African Pharmaceutical Development, currently under consideration by the African Union, may provide the boost needed to overcome this final hurdle.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Source: illustrated by authors with data from cited references [2,3,4,5]

Fig. 2

Source: illustrated by authors

Fig. 3

Source: drawn by authors from World Health Organization estimates [10]

Fig. 4

Source: drawn by authors from World Health Organization-prequalified data [12]

Fig. 5

Source: illustrated by authors

Fig. 6

Source: authors analysis from Global Fund AMFm data [26, 27]

Fig. 7

Source: illustrated by authors

Fig. 8

Source: illustrated by authors with information from the Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (FAPMA), African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH), and cited references [2,3,4,5, 17, 29]

Fig. 9

Source: Illustrated by authors

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. Deutsche Gesselschaft für Technische Zussamenarbeit is now merged (2011) with two German assistance programs to form Deutsche Gesselschaft für Internationale Zussamenarbeit.

  2. The AMRH partnership comprises NMRAs in Africa, regional economic communities, NEPAD Agency, African Union Commission, Pan African Parliament, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK Department for International Development, Swiss Development Cooperation, and the Clinton Health Access Initiative.

  3. Formerly the Center for Pharmaceutical Advancement and Training.

References

  1. Banda G, Wangwe S, Mackintosh M. Making medicines in Africa: an historical political economy overview. In: Mackintosh M, Banda G, Tibandebage P, Wamae W, editors. Making medicines in Africa: the political economy of industrializing for local health. Hampshire: Palgrave; 2016. p. 7–24.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Wambebe C, Ochekpe N. Pharmaceutical sector profile: Nigeria. Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Information about pharmacy in South Africa. List of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in South Africa. http://infosapharmacy.blogspot.com/2013/02/list-of-pharmacuitical-manufacturing.html. Accessed 9 Dec 2017.

  4. Hassan S, Wanyanga W. Pharmaceutical sector profile: Kenya. Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Harper J, Martha G-L. The viability of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Ghana to address priority endemic disease in the West Africa sub-region. Eschborn: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit; 2007.

    Google Scholar 

  6. African Development Bank. Revitalizing Africa’s pharmaceutical industry. http://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/revitalizing-africas-pharmaceutical-industry-13289/. Accessed 9 Dec 2017.

  7. Holt T, Lahrichi M, Santos da Silva J. Africa: a continent of opportunity for pharma and patients. 2015. http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/pharmaceuticals-and-medical-products/our-insights/africa-a-continent-of-opportunity-for-pharma-and-patients. Accessed 14 Aug 2017.

  8. Mujija PGM, Mackintosh M, Justin-Temu M, Wuyts M. Local production of pharmaceuticals in Africa and access to essential medicines: ‘urban bias’ in access to imported medicines in Tanzania and its policy implications. Global Health. 2014;10:12–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Mackintosh M, Mugwawa J, Banda G, Tunguhole J. Local production of pharmaceuticals and health system strengthening in Africa. http://health.bmz.de/ghpc/evidence_briefs/local_production_pharmaceuticals_health_sysem_strengthening_africa/EB_Pharma.pdf. Accessed 11 Dec 2017.

  10. Number of people (all ages) living with HIV: estimates by WHO region. 2016. http://apps.who.int/gho/data/view.main.22100WHO. Accessed 8 Jan 2018.

  11. Global HIV statistics: fact sheet July 2017. http://www.unaids.org/sites/default/files/media_asset/UNAIDS_FactSheet_en.pdf. Accessed 29 Aug 2017.

  12. Medicines/finished pharmaceutical products: WHO-prequalification of medicines programme. 2017. http://extranet.who.int/prequal/content/prequalified-lists/medicines. Accessed 16 Aug 2017.

  13. Indian Mirror. Indian pharmaceutical industry. http://www.indianmirror.com/indian-industries/pharmaceutical.html. Accessed 9 Dec 2017.

  14. Shah V. Evolution of pharmaceutical industry: a global Indian and Gujarat perspective. J Pharm Sci Biosci Res. 2012;2:219–29.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Government of India. Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, Department of Pharmaceuticals. Cluster development programme for pharma sector. http://pharmaceuticals.gov.in/sites/default/files/cluster.pdf. Accessed 12 Dec 2017.

  16. Graham EG. A flourishing pharmaceutical industry is healthy for Africa. Corp Afr. 2009;47:62–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Rugumambaju S, Kutyabami P. Pharmaceutical sector profile: Uganda. Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Word Health Organization. Assessment of medicines regulatory systems in African countries: an overview of findings from 26 assessment reports. Geneva: WHO Press; 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Promoting export by pharmaceutical manufacturers. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=116772. Accessed 12 Dec 2017.

  20. India Brand Equity Foundation. Indian pharmaceutical industry. http://www.ibef.org/industry/pharmaceutical-india.aspx. Accessed 13 Dec 2017.

  21. United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. Transnational trafficking and the rule of law in West Africa: a threat assessment. Vienna: UNODC; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  22. World Health Organization. Growing threat from counterfeit medicines. Bull World Health Organ. 2010;88:247–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Delepierre A, Gayot A, Carpenter A. Update on counterfeit antibiotics worldwide: public health risks. Med Mal Infect. 2012;42:247–55.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Adjei HK, Ohene P. Counterfeit drugs: the relentless war in Africa. PPIJ. 2015;2:1–3. http://medcraveonline.com/PPIJ/PPIJ-02-00016.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec 2017.

  25. Ngozwana S, West A, Olajide A, Byaruhanga J. Pharmaceutical manufacturing plan for Africa: business plan. African Union, Addis Ababa: United Nations Industrial Development Organization; 2012.

  26. Health Action International. Retail prices of ACTs co-paid by the AMFm and other antimalarial medicines: Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda: report of price tracking surveys. 2012. http://www.theglobalfund.org/media/5776/amfm_discussionpapereffectsofamfmonretailpricesinkenya_report_en.pdf. Accessed 24 Aug 2017.

  27. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Effects of AMFm on retail prices of and pricing practices for ACTs and dominant anti-malarials in Kenya: early observations under the AMFm. 2011. http://www.theglobalfund.org/media/5776/amfm_discussionpapereffectsofamfmonretailpricesinkenya_report_en.pdf. Accessed 24 Aug 2017.

  28. Ye Y, Arnold F, Noor A, Wamukoya M, Amuasi J, Blay S, et al. The Affordable Medicines Facility-Malaria (AMFm): are remote areas benefiting from the intervention? Malar J. 2015;14:398.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  29. Ndomondo-Sigonda M, Ambali A. The African medicines regulatory harmonization initiative: rationale and benefits. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2011;89:176–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Mackintosh M, Tibandebage P, Kungu JK, Njeru MK, Israel C. Health systems as industrial policy: building collaborative capabilities in the Tanzanian and Kenyan health sectors and local suppliers. In: Mackintosh M, Banda G, Tibandebage P, Wamae W, editors. Making medicines in Africa: the political economy of industrializing for local health. Palgrave: Hampshire; 2016. p. 147–65.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Gebre-Mariam T, Tahir K, Gebre-Amanuel S. Bringing industrial and health policies closer: reviving pharmaceutical production in Ethiopia. In: Mackintosh M, Banda G, Tibandebage P, Wamae W, editors. Making medicines in Africa: the political economy of industrializing for local health. Palgrave: Hampshire; 2016. p. 65–84.

    Google Scholar 

  32. East African Community regional pharmaceutical manufacturing plan of action (2012–2016). Arusha: EAC Secretariat; 2012.

  33. Bigsten A, Collier P, Dercon S, Fafchamps M, Gauthier B, Gunning JW, Soderbom M, Oduro A, Oostendorp R, Patillo C, Teal F, Zeufack A. Credit constraints in manufacturing enterprises in Africa. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.622.6299&rep=rep1&type=pdf. Accessed 13 Dec 2017.

  34. Quartey P, Turkson E, Abor JY, Iddrisu AM. Financing the growth of SMEs in Africa: what are the constraints to SME financing within ECOWAS. Rev Develop Finance. 2017;7:18–28.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Kazeem Y. Africa start-ups are securing more investment—but there’s still room for growth. 2016. http://qz.com/691106/african-start-ups-are-securing-more-investment-but-theres-still-room-for-growth. Accessed 15 Aug 2017.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LaGray, Inc., 6658 N. Fairfield Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60645, USA

    Paul A. Lartey & Alexandra E. Graham

  2. Technology Solutions for Global Health (Tech4Health), LLC, Germantown, MD, USA

    Patrick H. Lukulay

  3. NEPAD Agency, Randjespark, Midrand, South Africa

    Margareth Ndomondo-Sigonda

Authors
  1. Paul A. Lartey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alexandra E. Graham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Patrick H. Lukulay
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Margareth Ndomondo-Sigonda
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paul A. Lartey.

Ethics declarations

Funding

No funding has been received for the preparation of this article.

Conflict of interest

Paul A. Lartey, Alexandra E. Graham, Patrick H. Lukulay, and Margareth Ndomondo-Sigonda have no conflicts of interest directly relevant to the content of this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lartey, P.A., Graham, A.E., Lukulay, P.H. et al. Pharmaceutical Sector Development in Africa: Progress to Date. Pharm Med 32, 1–11 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-018-0220-3

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40290-018-0220-3

Search

Navigation