Africa’s high dependence on pharmaceutical imports is not sustainable and could lead to shortages of vital medicines if local production isn’t improved, according to Rory Horner, globalisation lecturer at the University of Manchester.
Currently, Africa imports about 80% of its pharmaceutical products. In order to develop local producers, Horner was quoted by China-based news agency, Xinhua, as saying that local industries should be given preferential treatment in public procurement.
"This will help to nurture the local industry as government is usually the biggest procurer in any nation. However, it will take time to build local capacity and so collaboration with experienced players and countries is also vital," he said.
He added that locally produced medicines had a far greater reach as manufacturers were able to deliver treatments to remote locations in emergency situations.
