The pharmaceutical industry, a still embryonic sector in Africa
A nurse prepares a vaccine against malaria, in Kisumu, Kenya, on July 1, 2022 (photo illustration).
© Baz Ratner / Reuters
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Abidjan hosted the Africa Health Expo forum from December 1 to 3, dedicated to the health ecosystem in Africa.
The opportunity to draw up an inventory of the pharmaceutical industry which is still struggling to develop on the continent.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan
,
Marine Jeannin
Africa only produces 3% of the drugs it consumes.
This
hyper dependence
was brought to a head-on by governments during the
Covid-19 pandemic
.
For Dr. Jean-Marc Bouchez, President of the Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers in Francophone Sub-Saharan Africa, it is first and foremost a problem of industrialization.
“
There have been some production experiments, there are still some laboratories that are developing
, he explains.
But they are, most of the time, focused on a national market, whereas to make a real production unit profitable, it is more necessary to speak of regional development.
»
“
Producing antimalarials for Africa in Africa
”
Jean-Marc Bouchez is also the general manager of Tridem Pharma, which belongs to the Chinese health giant Fosun and which wants to remedy this situation.
The group announced last March the construction of a production unit in Grand-Bassam,
Côte d'Ivoire
.
“
It's a project that must be done over ten years
, explains Jean-Marc Bouchez
.
In total, it is an investment, between the distribution center and the production unit, of 75 million euros
.
»
Tridem Pharma wishes to transfer part of Fosun's production from China to Côte d'Ivoire.
“
A transfer of skills
”, according to Jean-Marc Bouchez who details: “
We are the world's leading producer of antimalarials.
So the priority will be to produce antimalarials for Africa, in Africa
.
The group is ultimately aiming for a workforce of 800 to 1,000 employees and hopes to motivate students to specialize in industrial pharmacy, where they are still rare.
► Also to listen:
How can Africa build its pharmaceutical sovereignty?
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