AU Member States commit to strengthening Africa’s health manufacturing sector

EGYPT – African Union (AU) Member States have endorsed a new commitment to boost local production of vaccines, medicines, diagnostics, and other essential health products.

Kenya’s delegation, led by Principal Secretary for Medical Services Harry Kimtai, joined regional leaders in supporting key initiatives designed to improve healthcare self-sufficiency.

Among the major steps taken is upgrading the Partnerships for African Vaccine Manufacturing (PAVM) to the Platform for Harmonized African Health Manufacturing (PHAHM), which will drive Africa’s push for self-reliance.

Additionally, the establishment of the African Pooled Procurement Mechanism (APPM) is expected to make health products more affordable and accessible, while the African Medicines Regulatory Harmonization (AMRH) and the African Medicines Agency (AMA) will strengthen regulatory oversight.

The communiqué also supports the Gavi African Vaccine Manufacturing Accelerator (AVMA), a US$1.2 billion initiative to increase vaccine production.

Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of regional cooperation and sustainable financing to ensure long-term investment in Africa’s health manufacturing sector.

To support this vision, AU Member States, regional economic communities, and international partners have been urged to prioritize the procurement of African-made vaccines and health products.

This commitment is expected to provide a steady demand for local manufacturers, encouraging more investments in the sector.

In addition, the forum called for stronger efforts to develop local talent, improve financial support, and coordinate procurement strategies to reduce the continent’s reliance on imports.

Speaking at the 2nd Vaccine and Other Health Products Manufacturing Forum in Cairo, Egypt, Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai stressed the need for African nations to align policies and investments to support pharmaceutical and biomanufacturing growth.

 He pointed out the progress made since the first forum in Marrakech in 2023, including the expansion of vaccine production, the introduction of Africa-focused financing models, and stronger regulatory frameworks.

He also highlighted the signing of key agreements between regulators, manufacturers, and training institutions—an essential step toward ensuring the sustainability of Africa’s health manufacturing industry.

Kenya, in particular, has positioned itself as a major player in this sector, with over 35 active manufacturing sites serving local, continental, and global markets.

 The government has also established the Kenya BioVax Institute to advance vaccine and biologics production.

However, despite these developments, Africa still relies heavily on imported health products, even as local manufacturers struggle with underutilized production capacity.

Mr. Kimtai emphasized the need for better policy alignment across health, trade, and industrial sectors to bridge this gap.

He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to Africa’s health security agenda and noted that President William Ruto continues to advocate for local manufacturing at the AU level.

He called on governments, private sector stakeholders, and development partners to accelerate regulatory harmonization, improve trade facilitation, and support preferential procurement of locally made health products.

Mr. Kimtai urged African leaders to elevate these discussions to the highest levels as the continent prepares for the upcoming AU Summit.

He stressed that strengthening local health manufacturing should remain a top priority for Africa’s health and economic future.

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