31 July 2026

Countries across Eastern and Southern Africa have taken another significant step towards strengthening regional pharmaceutical manufacturing after endorsing a roadmap aimed at expanding local production of medicines and health technologies.

The roadmap was adopted during a regional Community of Practice meeting held in Mombasa, Kenya, where representatives from ministries of health, medicines regulatory authorities, manufacturers, procurement agencies, research institutions, regional economic communities, and development partners agreed on practical measures to reduce Africa's reliance on imported health products and enhance health security.

The meeting highlighted local pharmaceutical manufacturing as both a public health priority and an economic opportunity. Participants stressed that building resilient regional manufacturing ecosystems will improve access to safe, quality-assured medicines while strengthening the continent's preparedness for future public health emergencies.

Delegates also identified key barriers to industry growth, including the high cost of bioequivalence studies, compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), financing constraints, and ongoing supply chain disruptions. To address these challenges, they recommended adopting risk-based regulatory approaches, establishing accredited regional bioequivalence centres, and increasing financial and technical support for local manufacturers.

The discussions reinforced Africa's ambition to increase local production of vaccines and essential health products from approximately 1% today to 60% by 2040, aligning with broader continental efforts to achieve pharmaceutical self-reliance. Participants also highlighted initiatives such as the Africa Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM), the Platform for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM), and the Platform for Harmonised African Health Products Manufacturing (PHAHM) as critical mechanisms for creating sustainable demand and supporting long-term investment in local production.

Looking ahead, member states committed to expanding joint GMP inspections, strengthening technology transfer and intellectual property capacity, establishing regional centres of excellence, and creating a digital knowledge hub to support collaboration across countries. They also called for preferential procurement policies, longer-term purchasing agreements, and stronger regulatory harmonisation to improve investor confidence and accelerate the growth of Africa's pharmaceutical industry.

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to regional collaboration and officially renamed the initiative the Community of Practice on Regional Manufacturing of Health Products and Technologies, reflecting its expanded mandate to advance pharmaceutical manufacturing and healthcare self-reliance across Eastern and Southern Africa.