Local manufacture of Pharmaceuticals: an untapped opportunity for Industrialization in Africa

Abstract

Africa has a large disease burden and poor access to affordable medicines. Africa carries 25% of the world’s disease burden: for example, more than 70% of the world’s HIV/AIDS cases and 90% of the deaths due to malaria currently occur in Africa. 50% of global deaths under five occur in Africa, due largely to neonatal causes, pneumonia, diarrhoea, measles, HIV, TB and malaria. Moreover, noncommunicable diseases - like heart disease, lung disorders, diabetes and cancer - are on the rise, due to demographic and lifestyle changes on the continent.