Africa now all out to make essential genetic medicines

With the majority of their populations having to cope with the disease burden without proper and affordable medication, African countries are taking a crucial step that would eventually lead to the local production of essential generic medicines on the continent.

The long-awaited Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa would be unveiled here during the inaugural meeting of the African Union�s (AU) technical committee responsible for setting the stage to get the plan under way, the AU Commission said Tuesday.

At the Abuja Summit in January 2005, African leaders mandated the AU Commission to develop the pharmaceutical manufacturing plan within the framework of the New Partnership for Africa�s Development (NEPAD).

According to the Commission, experts designated by 12 Member States forming the technical committee will meet from October 24-26, this year to consider the plan outline among other necessary procedures.

The committee is expected to present an informed plan of action to the AU Ministers of Health within six months of its inauguration.

Member countries of the committee, selected on a regional basis, are Egypt and Libya (North Africa), Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal (West Africa), Burundi, Cameroon and Gabon (Central Africa), Kenya and Ethiopia (East Africa) and Angola and South Africa (Southern Africa).

In accordance with the Summit decision, the AU Commission said it conducted a drug production capacity mapping exercise in the continent in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meanwhile, the WHO Regional Committee for Africa has since adopted two resolutions emphasizing local production of essential medicines and African traditional medicines.

While unreliable medicine supply systems continue to hamper access, it is believed that local production will save foreign exchange, create jobs, alleviate poverty and promote social development.

In addition, development of the African pharmaceutical industry would facilitate technology transfer, stimulate exports, and improve self-sufficiency in drug supply by making use of locally available raw materials.

A number of African countries rely on India and China for imports of affordable generics and raw materials, the AU Commission noted.

``The leadership of the AU is committed to ensuring access to essential medicines for countries in need, irrespective of their level of technological development and manufacturing capacity,`` said the Commission.

An assessment of local production in the WHO African Region indicated that out of 46 countries, 37 had pharmaceutical industries, 34 had secondary level production and 25 had tertiary production.

Only one had limited primary production while nine countries had no production capacity. Though no country was entirely self-sufficient in pharmaceuticals, the negative trade balance of most countries in the continent was of concern.

Taking into consideration the fact that the driving force behind pharmaceutical production is capital and technology intensive, analysts point out that technical expertise is absolutely critical, both in terms of sufficient numbers and appropriate skills.

Africa would, therefore, have to invest in the production of different skilled scientists in the disciplines of biology, chemistry, process engineering, medical engineering, biochemistry, bio-computer science, physics and pharmaceutical science as well as clinicians.

Local production may not immediately save foreign currency because such things as production equipment, laboratory equipment and reagents would be imported and paid for in foreign currency.