Dr. Afam Ben Obidike, Hon. Commissioner for Health, Anambra State, expressed enthusiasm about the goal of the Impact Africa Summit, emphasizing the critical need for Africa to achieve pharmaceutical self-sufficiency and stating, “This summit is very interesting and dedicating, and something I would be looking out to attending the next one.”
He highlighted the stark reality that Africa, representing 19% of the world’s population and bearing 25% of the global disease burden, produces less than 5% of pharmaceutical products. In Nigeria, he noted the dependence is even more pronounced, with 95-100% of active pharmaceutical ingredients, 100% of immunization vaccines, and 85% of finished medications being imported.
Dr. Obidike asserted that “with these statistics, Nigeria is a country at risk if we cannot produce what we consume and need pharmaceutically.” He emphasised that he and fellow commissioners of health across Nigeria are determined to address this challenge by reducing the cost of pharmaceutical production and products within the country.
He detailed concrete steps being taken in Eastern Nigeria to transition from importers to manufacturers and distributors, including the establishment of pharmaceutical hubs.
To facilitate this, the government is committed to
- Providing Land and Infrastructure: Offering large plots of land, ensuring 22–24-hour power supply, creating free zones, and providing other essential infrastructure.
- Strengthening Regulatory Oversight: Bringing regulatory authorities on-site to monitor activities and ensuring WHO certification for all products.
- Supporting Local Manufacturers: Facilitating collaboration among indigenous manufacturers to overcome shared challenges.
He identified the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) as a vital tool in achieving these objectives, with the aim of producing 20% of drugs locally within the next two years.
Dr. Obidike emphasized the critical role of the Impact Africa Summit platform in this transformation, providing opportunities for:
- Deliberation and Strategy: Discussing practical ways to enhance local pharmaceutical production.
- Integrating Clinical Trials: Recognizing the importance of including African populations in clinical trials, given genetic and environmental differences.
- Addressing Non-Communicable Diseases: Acknowledging the shifting disease burden in Africa towards non-communicable diseases and tailoring clinical trials accordingly.
He stated, “If we do the clinical trials, there will be more effectiveness and efficiency.” Stressing the imperative that clinical trials take place where the disease burden and medication consumption are highest.
Dr. Obidike highlighted the crucial role of the private sector as a driver of this initiative, stating, “The private sector needs to come in and drive the initiative, because government cannot be in the business of doing good business.” He emphasized the government’s role in creating an enabling environment for private investment, such as the duty waivers recently implemented for pharmaceutical production materials.
The 2025 Impact Africa Summit will be pivotal in building on these efforts in advocating for the establishment of pharmaceutical hubs, advocate for greater African participation in clinical trials, foster collaboration between government and the private sector and highlight the progress made towards local pharmaceutical production.
Join us at the 2025 Impact Africa Summit and be part of the movement to create a thriving African pharmaceutical industry.
