Local pharma production can create jobs, strengthen Africa’s health security – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that the growth of local pharmaceutical and health-product manufacturing can assist Africa in addressing unemployment among skilled young people while bolstering the continent's ability to respond to future health crises. He highlighted a "structural paradox" faced by Africa, where there is a shortage of health workers despite a significant number of unemployed trained healthcare professionals and science graduates.

Mahama stated that developing the health manufacturing ecosystem could yield opportunities beyond conventional clinical practice. According to him, local production would create employment in research and development, clinical trials, engineering, and biotechnology. He argued that domestic manufacturing would enhance health security by reducing Africa's reliance on overseas suppliers during global emergencies.

He cited the COVID-19 pandemic and recent Ebola outbreaks as instances where African countries could be placed at the end of global supply chains due to surges in demand for vaccines and life-saving therapies. Beyond employment and security, Mahama argued that local production could make medicines more affordable for ordinary citizens by lowering logistics costs and removing intermediary margins, resulting in affordable, high-quality medicines reaching patients across Africa.

He thus called for increased investment in manufacturing, research, biotechnology, and other components of the regional health value chain.