President William Ruto has urged African countries to reduce their reliance on imported medicines and strengthen local production, aligning with the African Union's goal to meet 60% of its health-product needs through local manufacturing by 2040. Ruto emphasized that achieving this target requires governments to implement reforms in procurement, regulation, financing, technology transfer, and industrial policy. He noted that Africa carries a significant share of the world's disease burden but produces only a small fraction of its medical supplies.
Ruto highlighted the imbalance in Africa's healthcare system, citing that the continent makes less than 6% of its medical supplies and only about 1% of the vaccines it uses. He pointed out that this disparity became glaringly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, when countries across Africa competed for scarce supplies and often found themselves behind wealthier markets in the global queue. Ruto emphasized that Africa must take control of its own health security and sovereignty.
The African Union has placed local manufacturing at the center of its health-security agenda, with Ruto serving as the champion for local manufacturing of health products. He cited the example of alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly oral HIV-prevention medicine developed by MSD, which is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials. Kenya is preparing to manufacture alimatravir, and Ruto called for harmonized regulation, pooled procurement, long-term financing, technology transfer, and coherent national policies to support local production.
In July 2022, MSD announced voluntary licensing arrangements with seven generic manufacturers, including three African companies: Universal Corporation Limited in Kenya, Quality Chemical Industries Limited in Uganda, and Aspen Pharmacare in South Africa. The licenses cover potential supply to 129 low- and lower-middle-income countries, subject to successful development and regulatory approval. UNAIDS has welcomed the early manufacturing strategy, noting that preparations for financing, demand forecasting, accessibility, and regulatory readiness could help shorten the time between approval and patient access.
Dr. Priya Agrawal, Vice President of Health Equity and Partnerships at MSD, emphasized the need for stronger African pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity to ensure rapid, equitable, and sustainable access to alimatravir. She stressed that African manufacturers must receive the capabilities, financing, and market support needed to compete on cost, quality, and reliability. Agrawal highlighted that this is about strengthening African research and manufacturing, supporting skilled jobs and local private businesses, expanding regional trade, and the journey from innovation to impact.
The Africa CDC's African Pooled Procurement Mechanism is designed to aggregate demand across countries, strengthen bargaining power, and create more predictable markets for manufacturers. Ruto called for harmonization and giving the African Medicines Agency the strength to lead, emphasizing that one continent should have one coherent pathway for faster access to patients. The declaration also backed pooled procurement, sustainable financing, skills development, and technology transfer.
Kenyan Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale announced that Kenya has made progress in getting WHO certification of the Kenya Pharmacy and Poisons Board to Maturity level 3. He emphasized that Africa's health security and sovereignty will depend on building not only manufacturing capacity but also the markets, financing, and regulatory systems needed to make local production sustainable and competitive. Duale added that development banks, private investors, and international partners have a role in creating financing instruments suited to the pharmaceutical industry's long development cycles.
Key points
- President William Ruto calls for African countries to reduce dependence on imported medicines and strengthen local production.
- The African Union aims to meet 60% of its health-product needs through local manufacturing by 2040.
- Kenya is preparing to manufacture alimatravir, an investigational once-monthly oral HIV-prevention medicine.
