By Michel Sidibe, Special Envoy of the African Union
With 17% of the world's population, Africa (55 countries, 1.3 billion people) bears a disproportionate burden of disease: it accounts for a quarter of the world's disease burden, 60% of people living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 90% of the world's annual malaria cases, but only 6% of health spending and less than 1% of the global pharmaceutical market.
The continent produces only 3% of the medicines consumed by its people. Pharmaceutical supply chains have multiple intermediaries, contributing to the fact that medicines sold in sub-Saharan Africa are often the most expensive in the world. In addition, Africa has the highest prevalence of substandard and falsified medicines (20%), which affect patients, who often turn to the parallel market.
These challenges have been largely attributed to weak or absent drug regulatory systems that include unclear policies and incomplete or inconsistent legal and regulatory frameworks. It is therefore essential to act at this level. It is equally important to stimulate local production of pharmaceuticals on the continent. The pharmaceutical sector is expected to grow from $19 billion in 2012 to $66 billion by 2022, with Africa expected to be the fastest growing market in the world. It is also estimated that the health and wellness sector in Africa will be worth around $259 billion by 2030, with the potential to create over 16 million jobs. A recent analysis shows that the cost of most medicines produced in Ethiopia and Nigeria is typically 5-15% lower than the price of imported products. A very important pillar for these issues is the recent advent of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which will foster the creation of a true African drug market and allow for economies of scale for continental production to meet Africa's needs.
The Covid-19 pandemic has greatly amplified the urgent need for the African Union and its member states to invest in effective and efficient regulation of medicines, medical products and technologies. It has highlighted the need to strengthen political health diplomacy, leadership and coordination within the AU, to increase the resilience of health systems and to better prepare for future crises.
Strengthening our joint crisis management capacity in Africa is essential to prepare for serious cross-border health threats.
Learning from the current crisis, the ratification, establishment and rapid operationalisation of the African Medicines Agency will strengthen preparedness and response capacity for current and future health crises. Indeed, the African Medicines Agency will generally be able to facilitate a coordinated African Union-wide response to health crises; monitor and mitigate the risk of shortages of critical medicines and medical devices; and provide scientific advice on medicines that can prevent, diagnose or treat the diseases that cause such crises. It will facilitate the coordination of clinical trials, including vaccines.
More specifically, taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area, the African Medicines Agency will be able to strengthen Africa's R&D capacity, harmonise regulations in the registration of medicines, help countries comply with best practices and international standards, strengthen the fight against substandard and counterfeit medicines and medical products, and foster the creation of an enabling environment for continental production of medicines and vaccines.
The African Medicines Agency will be the first continent-wide African medicines agency. A minimum of 15 out of 55 AU member states must ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. The rapid implementation of this innovative and long-awaited instrument is essential to achieving universal health coverage and better addressing the needs of the poorest.
Publisher: Entreprenante Afrique
References
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