Africa is moving to strengthen its pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity after reports revealed that the continent produces less than 1% of the vaccines it uses, despite a market valued at more than US$50 billion annually.
Speaking at the opening of the African Manufacturing Pre-Marketplace Forum, Dr Jean Kaseya, Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), said the disparity highlights the urgent need for the continent to develop its own vaccine production systems.
“Africa’s market for medicines and vaccines is worth over US$50 billion each year, yet less than 1% of the vaccines used on the continent are manufactured in Africa,” Dr Kaseya said.
The forum, co-organised by Africa CDC and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, aims to link manufacturers, investors, and buyers to accelerate the growth of Africa’s health product industry.
Dr Kaseya said achieving health sovereignty would require more than political ambition. He stressed the importance of predictable demand, strong regulatory systems, sustainable financing, and long-term procurement commitments.
“Health sovereignty requires more than ambition. It requires predictable demand, regulatory strength, sustainable financing, and buyers willing to commit to African-made products,” he said.
Africa has set a target to manufacture 60% of its vaccine needs locally by 2040. Currently, the continent has 574 manufacturers across the health products sector, with only 25 involved in vaccine production.
Dr Kaseya said the immediate priority is to bridge the gap between supply and demand while attracting investment to scale up production.
“The work now is to connect supply with demand, unlock investment, and build a market that sustains African manufacturing at scale,” he said.
The initiative comes as African countries seek to reduce reliance on imports, a vulnerability exposed during global health crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted access to essential vaccines and medical supplies.
Officials say strengthening local manufacturing capacity is critical to ensuring timely and equitable access to vaccines across the continent.
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