From the newsletter
Subsidised medicine imports are helping African patients access treatment. The same imports, however, make it harder for local manufacturers to compete against multinational pharma in open tenders. A September report from the Access to Medicine Foundation shows how foreign subsidies can leave African production capacity unused, even for essential medicines.
Nigeria’s Emzor produces misoprostol for stomach ulcers but operates below capacity as donor-funded imports meet much of regional demand. International procurement programmes supply the medicine at subsidised prices, making it harder for regional manufacturers to compete.
With over $5.5 billion pledged to African health manufacturing and February’s declaration by African governments targeting 60% local production by 2040, securing orders is critical. Manufacturers need sufficient sales to cover costs and sustain the factories these commitments aim to support.
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