A New Era For Africa: Accelerating Pharmaceutical Industrialisation

"We are at a crossroads of profound urgency and opportunity," Bekele-Thomas began, highlighting the pressing need for self-reliance in pharmaceutical manufacturing. She underscored challenges such as rising protectionism and declining donor funding, which threaten Africa's access to essential health products. However, she framed this moment as a catalyst for transformation.

Bekele-Thomas emphasized the potential of the AfCFTA to serve as a cornerstone for building a robust pharmaceutical industry in Africa. She declared, "The era of business as usual cannot continue. Development must be reimagined, rooted in self-reliance, economic sovereignty, and transformative investments." The CEO called for a unified health ecosystem, addressing inefficiencies in procurement and regulation to meet the continent's healthcare needs.

Despite the challenges, Bekele-Thomas celebrated Africa's resilience and innovation. She cited the continent's response to the COVID-19 pandemic as a testament to its collective strength. From drone delivery systems in Rwanda to expanding telemedicine in Kenya, Africa has demonstrated its capability to address local health needs creatively.

AUDA-NEPAD's Southern Africa Network for Biosciences SANBio has been pivotal in advancing natural African traditional medicine. Collaborative efforts between universities, science councils, and pharmaceutical companies have already led to significant developments.

In her address, Bekele-Thomas outlined AUDA-NEPAD's strategy to industrialise Africa's pharmaceutical sector. This agenda extends beyond medicine production, aiming to create a continental economy rooted in dignity, resilience, and justice. Key initiatives include the 24 Priority Medical Products Initiative, which focuses on scaling up domestic production of critical medicines, and the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization Programme AMRH, which has streamlined regulatory processes to enable cross-border trade under AfCFTA.