Africa mainly needs to develop local manufacturing capabilities for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) to remove the dependency on imports, improve healthcare outcomes, and drive economic growth. Advancements in technologies and international collaborations can transform API manufacturing, boost African pharmaceutical development, and make Africa self-reliant. Africa’s pharmaceutical industry is at a crucial crossroads, with major developments made in downstream activities; however, a gap exists in upstream manufacturing, mainly in the production of APIs.
APIs are critical ingredients responsible for the therapeutic action of drugs, and local manufacturing is crucial to achieving self-sufficiency and the long-term sustainability of healthcare on the continent. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed Africa’s dependence on imported drugs, highlighting a vulnerability in the supply chain and reinforcing the high importance of having local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity on the continent.
Developing local capacity for API manufacturing will decrease the country’s dependence on imports, provide a cheaper and more stable source of essential medicines, and contribute to the economy by generating employment opportunities for highly skilled individuals. For domestic producers of finished drugs, the trend has economic benefits, such as a smaller supply chain, the option to order frequent, smaller shipments of APIs, lower costs associated with quality control, and a lesser risk of substandard drugs reaching the market.
According to an economic report on Africa 2025 by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) nations’ dependence on imported drugs and vaccines highlights the need for local pharmaceutical production. Africa imports around 70-90% of its pharmaceutical products, adding $14.5 billion, and local manufacturers produce only 1% of Africa’s vaccine demand.
Companies in Africa are increasing production of APIs for anti-malaria drugs. Numerous pharmaceutical companies in Africa are making great improvements in producing local APIs for their manufacturing. For instance, Emzor Pharmaceuticals in Nigeria planned to invest $23 million in an API plant to increase the production of APIs for anti-malaria drugs, whereas API for Africa (APIFA) is engaged in increasing local pharmaceutical production capacity throughout Sub-Saharan Africa. Also, NTP Radioisotopes SOC Ltd. is one of just four big commercial manufacturers of fission-based Mo-99, the world’s most critical diagnostic medical radioisotope. NTP contributes significantly as a member of the OECD high-level group on the security of the supply of medical radioisotopes while ensuring the sustainable and dependable supply of API.”
International organization support is also a key for local pharmaceutical makers to succeed. For instance, support from the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) assisted in meeting API master file requirements and obtaining World Health Organization (WHO) Prequalification (WHO-PQ) status, which is vital for international market access and approval. In 2024, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) confirmed to work together with South African pharmaceutical companies to implement an innovative and less expensive, ‘continuous flow technology’ for making APIs such as Rifapentine, an important drug to treat tuberculosis (TB), including drug-resistant TB. This shows how global partnerships can mainly increase local API manufacturing capacity and help improve public health outcomes.
Funding is Still a Major Challenge
Funding, though, is a major issue for local API production in Africa. Compared to “fill and finish” contracts that African manufacturers are more likely to receive from pharma multinationals elsewhere, developing API manufacturing capacity is a major capital-intensive effort.
Prioritizing local API manufacturing will go a long way in enhancing Africa’s health systems and reducing import dependency. In addition to increasing the availability of essential medicines, local API production will create high-quality employment opportunities, drive economic growth, and make Africa a leading player in pharmaceutical innovation.
Beyond that, it will help to build a robust pharmaceutical sector, one that can meet future health emergencies and bring long-term benefits to public health. Although the path to self-reliance is long and demanding, the potential rewards, both in terms of health outcomes and economic benefit, are undeniable.
