IASPHARMA 2024 Speaker Highlight: Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana, MBBS, FWACP. Hon Commissioner, Yobe State Ministry of Health and Human Services.
“Gone are the days when you just sit down and speak verbally without action.”
This statement, credited to Dr. Lawan Gana, at the IAS 2024 Pharma 5th Edition emphasized the critical shift from mere verbal discourse to actionable, data-driven progress in African clinical trials. This perspective is particularly relevant as anticipation builds for the Impact Africa Summit 2025 (IAS 2025).
Dr. Gana asserted that the era of “just sitting down and speaking verbally without action” is over. Instead, a focus on “measuring what we do, using data to assess progress” is crucial, as the absence of progress can have “fatal consequences.” This sentiment underscores the urgency of translating commitments into tangible advancements in African healthcare.
The importance of the federal government’s commitment to unlocking value chains in Nigeria’s health sector, especially in clinical trials, pharmaceutical drug development, and vaccine production, through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) was acknowledged. However, it was stressed that commitment alone is insufficient as a driver of these aspirations to form the basis of actionable strategies, guided by data.
Dr. Gana identified robust public-private partnerships as a critical component of this transformation. Stating that these collaborations are essential for developing an efficient drug development system to deliver affordable, high-quality medications to even the most remote communities. Achieving this, he posited, must be informed, through a data-driven approach, tracking outcomes, and ensuring real-world impact.
Dr. Gana highlighted the leading role of countries like Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt in shifting the narrative of over-reliance on foreign clinical trials. Through strategic collaborations, proactive shaping of regulatory frameworks, capacity building, and partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, noting that these nations are building a foundation for self-sufficiency within the continent. He also submitted that these partnerships, encompassing expertise in capacity, technology, distribution, and production, are vital for sustainable progress within the ecosystem.
The pivotal role of governments in fostering this ecosystem was also emphasized. By providing innovative financing and creating enabling policies, governments can cultivate an environment where clinical research thrives. The 2024 Impact Africa Summit was recognized for its significant role in raising awareness and fostering momentum towards building a stronger healthcare system in Nigeria, a momentum that aims to be sustained into 2025 and beyond.
The Impact Africa Summit 2025, with the theme “Integrating African Voices: Strengthening Capacity in Clinical Trials through Local Engagement and Global Partnerships Across Sub-Saharan Africa,” will provide a unique platform to address these challenges. The summit will gather top professionals and stakeholders from across the healthcare industry to build capacity, foster collaboration and partnership, learn, network, and celebrate with researchers and leaders in the pharmaceutical industry.
By focusing on sustainability, scalability, and globally acceptable growth patterns, leveraging data and fostering collaboration, the African clinical trial and healthcare landscape can be transformed.
Join us at the Impact Africa Summit 2025 to be part of this transformative journey. Let us move beyond words and embrace the era of data-driven progress.
