NextBillion - An Initiative of the William Davidson Institute at the University of Michigan

Monday, August 22, 2016

Accra, Aug 22: With a $106.8 million strategy to tackle Africa’s public health emergencies over the next five years, stakeholders here feel it will be an ideal opportunity for the Indian pharma companies to take advantage, with Cipla taking the lead.

Officials said Cipla plans to invest $88.94 million to set up a facility in South Africa for the manufacture of affordable cancer drugs. Managing Director and Global CEO of Cipla, Subhanu Saxena, said this will enable the creation of the African continent’s first bio-cluster.

“A state-of-the-art, world-class manufacturing base in South Africa will allow opportunities for supply-chain partners and related companies to get involved. This, in turn, will allow top-notch research efforts to stay in South Africa and attract research from global institutions too.”

But Cipla will face competition from other countries that will vie for Africa’s market share.

African Union officials told IANS that by 2018, at least 80 per cent of its 54 member-countries will test and fund preparedness plans to tackle health hazards, conduct outbreak and disaster risk analyses and mapping.