Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Eritrea, Central African Republic, Niger, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Togo – according to the IMF these were the 10 poorest countries in the world in 2011 with a per capita GDP below $900.
An inadequate infrastructure, a paucity of natural resources, lack of healthcare provision, natural disasters and internal conflict all contribute to the high rates of disease and mortality across most of Africa; this in turn limits the economic activity of the population, which then reduces the countries’ ability to improve their GDP.
There is no easy way to break this vicious circle. Improving access to medicines, both through donations via international organisations like the WHO, and through increasing imports of low-cost generics from countries such as India and China would obviously help, but can create as many problems as it solves.
For one thing, China is believed to be a major source of the counterfeit and substandard medicines that are prevalent across Africa, against which the lack of border controls and widespread corruption offer no protection. And for another, relying on free and subsidised sources of medicines hinders the development of local pharmaceutical manufacturing, which in turn would be an important boost to economic activity.
In an effort to develop and strengthen the local production of pharmaceuticals, three regional associations have established an umbrella organisation representing the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector in Africa. The Federation of African Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (FAPMA) aims for a vibrant and self-sustaining pharma manufacturing industry in Africa by facilitating collaboration between regional associations to address common challenges faced by the industry.
Pharmaceutical self-sufficiency is the only real solution in Africa – but the road will be long and hard and beset with pitfalls. Surely it behoves the rest of the world to use its abundant resources to pave the way as far as possible.