President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized the potential for Africa to create millions of jobs through local health manufacturing. Speaking at the Health Plenary of the Alamein Africa Forum in Egypt, he highlighted the need for investment in local production to generate employment opportunities across various sectors, including research, biotechnology, engineering, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. This, he believes, can help address the continent's growing unemployment challenge.
Africa faces a structural paradox in its health workforce, with a shortage of about six million health workers, according to the World Health Organization. Meanwhile, approximately 943,000 trained healthcare professionals and science graduates remain unemployed on the continent. President Mahama argues that developing local healthcare industries can help address both problems by creating new employment opportunities while retaining skilled professionals in Africa. This approach can also help in reversing the brain drain that the continent experiences.
Local manufacturing in the health sector can generate jobs in research and development, clinical trials, engineering, and biotechnology, helping retain talent and employ youth. President Mahama noted that Africa's growing population and expanding demand for medicines provide a strong foundation for the development of a large health manufacturing industry. The continent's population is projected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, creating a growing market for essential medicines, chronic disease treatments, and biologics. This demographic trend presents a significant opportunity for local production.
Currently, Africa imports more than 70 percent of its pharmaceuticals and nearly 99 percent of its vaccines. President Mahama believes that shifting production to Africa can retain more economic value within the continent while creating opportunities for young professionals. Local production would also help reduce the financial burden associated with importing medicines and vaccines from outside the continent. Furthermore, it can enhance the accessibility and affordability of healthcare products.
Domestic production can reduce logistics costs and intermediary margins, improving access to quality medicines. President Mahama also pointed out that the African Continental Free Trade Area provides an opportunity for manufacturers to access a market of about 1.4 billion people rather than being restricted to individual national markets. This can significantly boost the economic viability of local health manufacturing. By creating a larger market, manufacturers can achieve economies of scale.
President Mahama called on African governments and businesses to invest in the infrastructure, skills, and regulatory systems required to build competitive health industries. He emphasized that the ultimate objective should be to establish an integrated continental health economy capable of producing medicines, vaccines, and other health products while creating jobs for Africa's growing youth population. This requires a coordinated effort to develop the necessary ecosystem for local health manufacturing.
The development of local health manufacturing in Africa can have far-reaching benefits, including job creation, improved healthcare access, and economic growth. President Mahama's call to action is aimed at stakeholders across the continent, urging them to work together to harness the potential of local health manufacturing. By doing so, Africa can address some of its most pressing challenges, including unemployment and healthcare access, while building a more sustainable economic future.
Key points
- President Mahama emphasizes that local health manufacturing can create high-value jobs and help address Africa's growing unemployment challenge.
- Africa faces a shortage of about six million health workers, while approximately 943,000 trained healthcare professionals and science graduates remain unemployed.
- Local health manufacturing can help retain more economic value within Africa, improve access to quality medicines, and reduce the financial burden of importing healthcare products.
