Staff Reporter
SOUTHERN African countries and China are set to deepen cooperation on regional pharmaceutical manufacturing, with the SADC, UNAIDS, the Government of China and the Global Health Innovation Institute identifying opportunities to expand local production of medicines, vaccines and other health technologies.
The collaboration follows a joint visit to pharmaceutical and health technology production facilities in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa, where the delegation assessed existing capabilities in pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing, biotechnology, genomics and diagnostics.
The partners identified priority areas to help Southern African countries increase domestic production of quality-assured medicines and health products, reduce reliance on imports and strengthen regional health security.
The collaboration with China is expected to link technology, expertise, investment and manufacturing capabilities with the region’s growing production capacity.
“This exchange was about moving from ambition to practical action,” said Eva Kiwango, Director and Representative of the UNAIDS Office in China.
Kiwango said the region has the capacity to expand pharmaceutical manufacturing and improve access to essential HIV and other health products, but this would require sustained investment, aligned regulatory frameworks, technology transfer, skills development, strategic multilateral partnerships and innovative financing.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations’ Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS, which calls for greater health sovereignty and strengthened cooperation on local and regional production of HIV and other health technologies as part of efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
An official from China’s National Disease Control and Prevention Administration said the exchange had strengthened mutual understanding and identified concrete opportunities for cooperation between China and Southern Africa.
The official said combining strengths in policy, technology, manufacturing and market development could help advance local pharmaceutical production, enhance health security and support sustainable access to quality health products.
Key priorities identified during the exchange include developing a regional list of essential HIV and sexual and reproductive health commodities, improving demand forecasting and pooled procurement, and creating more predictable markets for African manufacturers.
The partners also agreed to advance technology transfer, skills development and investment opportunities to expand local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, while strengthening regulatory systems to support quality-assured production.
Ms Xiaoxia An, CEO of Desano Pharmaceutical Group, said the visit highlighted significant opportunities for cooperation between China and Southern Africa in pharmaceutical development.
She said combining strengths in manufacturing, innovation and market development could help strengthen local production capacity, improve access to quality medicines and contribute to better health outcomes across the region.
More than half of people living with HIV who are not receiving lifesaving antiretroviral treatment are in sub-Saharan Africa.
For UNAIDS, expanding pharmaceutical manufacturing in the region is therefore aimed not only at increasing production, but also at building more resilient health systems and ensuring timely access to health innovations and essential medicines.
Photo: UNAIDS
